Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Steven Vanackere took part in a Belgium Senate session where the issue of Camp Ashraf and Maliki’s illegal deadline to close the camp on December 31st was raised.
Below are excerpts of this session:
Belgium Senate
Public Session
November 24, 2011
Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister, responds to the question of Senator Gérard Deprez, former Deputy Prime Minister
Mr. Gerard Deprez’s verbal question from Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister regarding “Protection of Camp Ashraf” (No. 5-300)
Senator Gérard Deprez, former Deputy Prime Minister
Camp Ashraf was on April 8th 2011, the target of a deadly assault by Iraqi forces. Dozens were killed and hundreds injured. This attack raised the abhorrence of the international community and was condemned by the US State Department, UK Foreign Affairs Ministry, Lady Catherine Ashton, the US Congress and many other international human rights advocating organizations such as Amnesty International. In the face of this wave of abhorrence, the Iraqi Prime Minister decided to close Camp Ashraf by the end of 2011.
Based on information and news, the UN High Commission for Refugees has the accessibility and ability to reach the camp in order to carry out interviews with individuals who will be considered refugees. However, the Iraqi Government is clearly disagreeing with the Commission’s accessibility to the camp. This issue was notified to the European Parliament through the Iraqi Embassy in Brussels.
In your opinion, is the date set by the Iraqi Government, meaning 31 December 2011, to close the camp logical? Given that the Commission needs time to evaluate the profiles of 3400 individuals to reaffirm their refugee status?
Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister:
Prior to this, on November 10th in a public session of the Senate and on November 8th in the Parliament Commission, I had responded to questions regarding Ashraf. To this end, I will not repeat any of the remarks that I mentioned on the abovementioned dates. Moreover, I can say no more than our deep belief in Belgium’s diplomacy in the dire conditions, our concerns and the commitment that we are willing to take up in seeking a lasting solution.
In my belief, for the necessary measures to be implemented, the 31 December date in neither logical nor realistic. I had previously mentioned this in the Parliament Commission session.
Belgium’s diplomacy in this case will stay active and the appointment of Mr. Jean De Ruyt as Lady Ashton’s Special Envoy is proof to this claim. It is not accidental that a Belgian was asked to accept this mission. I will continue to discuss this issue with my colleagues in the European Union Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers in the 1st December 2011 session, which this case is on its agenda.
Continued remarks of Steven Vanackere, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister:
To our part, we completely agree with the principle of Non-refoulement and this principle must be respected. It is clear that a lasting solution can be implemented through an international solidarity. To the part of Belgium, I stipulate that we have not and will not ever disregard our responsibilities, especially when a collective solution in cooperation with other countries including a greater nation outside the European Union is on the table.