Turkey, US, UN and Iraq agree on return of refugees in Iraq

Sources said on Friday that upon targets of the first meeting in November 2003, representatives of Turkey, the United States, the United Nations and Iraq would come together again on January 21 in Ankara to sign a joint agreement.

Noting that technical studies on an acceptable document were still continuing, sources said that there was currently not a document ready for signature but it was about to finish.

As Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Under Secretary Nabi Sensoy who had attended the first meeting as Turkey’s representative would pay a visit to the United States next week, either date of the second meeting might be changed or another official would attend the meeting, sources said.

The sides which convened in Ankara in November to discuss voluntary return of refugees in Iraq, particularly the Turkish citizens in Mahmur refugee camp reached an agreement on basic principles and decided to prepare a joint plan.

Sources said that ‘safe, honorable and voluntary’ were the principles of the return process and stressed that Turkish citizens in the area should be informed correctly.

Nabi Sensoy, U.S. State Department Under Secretary for population, migration and refugees Arthur Dewey, U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees Kamel Morgane and a representative from the Iraqi interim Governing Council attended the meeting in Ankara in November.

Guest representatives are expected to come to Ankara at the beginning of next week.