President of European Parliament’s Delegation For Relations With Iraq: "All of Liberty residents, should be transferred to U.S. or Europe, or be returned to Camp Ashraf."

BRUSSELS, March 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a letter to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, Struan Stevenson, President of  the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with Iraq, while raising the issue of the immediate danger facing Iranian dissidents in Iraq, underscored 'there are only two solutions conceivable. Either all of the residents, without any exceptions, should be
temporarily transferred to a location in the United States or Europe, or be returned to Camp Ashraf so they can be resettled from there. There are two main elements involved in considering both solutions. First, as already stated, is that either solution should include everyone, without any exceptions. Secondly, the matter has to be dealt with urgently, as any delays will simply provide an opportunity for another vicious attack to take place.' 

    Mr. Stevenson stated 'the UN must understand that they are being held to account for one of the most serious humanitarian cases of the current century. They have a clear responsibility for the safety of the Ashraf and Liberty residents. They have deceived and failed them already and we now expect them to take clear and decisive action for their protection.' 

 He reiterated that in light of the February 9 rocket attack on Camp Liberty, the
home of 3100 members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran, which resulted in the death of eight of the Iranian dissidents with over 100 injured, 'Staying at Liberty is not an option. Simply returning to business as usual with renewed UNAMI interview sessions as if nothing had occurred is completely untenable. These people are crowded into a killing zone and under constant threat of attack. There will be no further business as usual until they are rescued and taken to a place of safety.' 

In the letter he criticized the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for
Iraq - Martin Kobler - stating 'on behalf of many of my colleagues in the European
Parliament, allow me to repeat what I wrote to you on 28 February: Please believe me that Mr. Kobler’s actions do not represent you or the values of the United Nations. He has little or no professional integrity. He has repeatedly provided false reports to the residents, their representatives and their friends like me, while he himself has been completely aware of the bogus nature of these reports.' 

In conclusion, the President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations
with Iraq articulated the specific steps that the UN has to act upon immediately to
prevent another bloodbath regarding the defenseless Iranian refugees in Iraq: 

    1. The crimes of February 9th and the threats that followed the attack should be
strongly condemned and investigated by the UN. 

    2. The Iraqi Government must move the Camp Liberty residents temporarily to Camp Ashraf which is relatively more secure. Otherwise the Secretary General should immediately raise the issue in the Security Council. 

    3. The UN must assign an impartial Envoy instead of the current one who has
consistently sided with the Iraqi government and sought to deceive the Ashraf/Liberty residents, their representatives and supporters and even elected MPs and MEPs.  

The Office of Mr. Struan Stevenson, President of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Iraq

CONTACT:  Ms. Kathryn Stack, telephone:  +3222847710