Statement by Mr. Casaca on adoption of resolution concerning Iraqi refugees and Iranian opposition

July 12, 2007

NCRI (Strasbourg) - Mr. Paulo Casaca, member of the European Parliament issued a statement regarding the adoption of a resolution on the humanitarian situation of Iraqi refugees. The text of the statement reads:

The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg this afternoon, has adopted a resolution on the humanitarian situation of Iraqi refugees.

This resolution is the result of a proposal presented by the Portuguese Socialist Paulo Casaca to his political group (PSE), then endorsed by the other political groups in the EP.

The resolution took in consideration, namely "the urgent appeals by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) of 7 February 2007 to increase international support for those countries hosting refugees fleeing Iraq, the international conference on Iraq of 17-18 April 2007 in Geneva aimed at raising awareness of the scale of humanitarian needs in Iraq and in the region, the UNHCR call of 5 June 2007 for all borders to remain open to those in need of protection ".

The Parliament stressed "that the general humanitarian and human rights situation is deteriorating in Iraq" and pointed to the latest figures available: "an average of 100 people are killed, 200 wounded per day, that 50% of the population is living on less than USD 1 per day, that unemployment affects more than 80% of the population, that 70% lack access to adequate water supply; 81% to effective sanitation, 3 million people will be food insecure if food distribution fails and that the system has already ceased to function in some areas, that 80% of doctors have left hospitals, that 75% children are not in school and that depending on the region 30% to 70% of the schools are closed" while recognised that "the attitude of most Member States and the US to recognising protection needs of Iraqi refugees has been largely restrictive".

This resolution calls for "international responsibility-sharing" in "the resettlement of Iraqi refugees and stateless persons" and for the Commission to exercise "appropriate flexibility in interpreting the relevant rules" in order to be able "to assist the neighbouring countries in their efforts to host the refugee population".

Regarding the situation of the PMOI camp in Ashraf, the European Parliament "strongly rejects the threats of expulsion and cutting off supplies of fuel and drinking water made by some senior officials in the Iraqi Government against 4 000 members of the Iranian opposition who have been political refugees in Iraq for the past 20 years and have the legal status of " Protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention" and calls on the Iraqi Government to respect their rights under international law".

Paulo Casaca, addressing the Plenary of the European Parliament just before the vote explained it as a solidarity gesture towards Iraqis (video available at http://www.paulocasaca.net/refugees.htm). Casaca had already been one of the first signatories of the EP Resolution on the situation of Iraqi Refugees adopted on February 15.