Iran has called on the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to engage long-term cooperation with the Islamic Republic to help repatriate the Afghanrefugees, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.
Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Mahdi Karrubi made the remarks in his talks with the visiting Brunson Mckinley, director general of the Geneva-based organization, the agency said. Karoubi thanked the IOM for extending assistance to the displaced Afghans in Iran and called for its help in repatriating the Afghan refugees when the situation permits. Iran is currently hosting about 2.5 million Afghan refugees, said the speaker, adding that prolonged presence of Afghan refugeeshas caused problems for Iran in the economic, social, cultural, security and political fields.
The only solution to the Afghan dilemma is establishment of a broad-based and multi-ethnic government in the country, he added. On his turn, Mckinley appreciated Iran's humanitarian assistanceto Afghan refugees, saying that the world community is indebted to Iran for its humanitarian assistance to the Afghans.
Iran and the IOM have similar outlook about Afghanistan's political settlement and they should further cooperate in this respect, said Mckinley, who arrived here Wednesday for talks with Iranian officials and Iran's Red Crescent Society on the Afghan crisis and relief projects for the displaced Afghans.
IOM and Iran's Red Crescent Society signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) Saturday for mutual cooperation in sending humanitarian relief aid to the vulnerable people, refugees, and immigrants.
(People's Daily November 19,2001)
