Turkey, US, UN and Iraq agree on return of 13,000 Turks

The agreement includes main principles protecting honor of humanity and targeting safe return of refugees.

The agreement will be signed after approval of official authorities of the relevant sides.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Multilateral Political Affairs Director General Daryal Batibay said that they targeted voluntary and safe return of nearly 13 thousand Turkish refugees from Iraq to Turkey.

Batibay said that most of Turkish refugees had gone to Iraq from the Southeastern Anatolia Region in 1990s due to terrorist acts.

Noting that a schedule had not seen set for return of Turkish refugees, Batibay said that the agreement would be signed after approval of the Council of Ministers.

Meanwhile, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Arthur Dewey said that they expected most of refugees to return to Turkey.

The first meeting about return of Turkish refugees in Iraq was held in Ankara in November of 2003.