Jordan Times
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Entry procedures for Iraqis
discussed
JT and agencies
AMMAN - Jordan and Iraq have agreed to set “workable mechanisms to facilitate
the entry of Iraqis into Jordan”, the government said, including obtaining prior
approval to cross the border into the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, a top Iraqi official said yesterday that his country and Jordan are
working together to encourage thousands of Iraqis residing in the Kingdom to
return home.
Following a meeting here between Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and Iraqi Vice
President Tareq Hashemi, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications
and acting Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said the two sides agreed to introduce
“applicable measures” to ease procedures facing Iraqi travellers, particularly
when it comes to obtaining prior approvals for entering Jordan.
These procedures are intended to spare travellers any complications, Judeh, who
attended the meeting, was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as saying.
Hashemi told reporters “obtaining approval prior to entering Jordanian
territories is extremely important”.
Iraqi officials have called on Jordan and Syria to apply a visa system, and
officials recently told The Jordan Times that the request was still under
consideration.
On inviting Iraqis to return home, Hashemi said: “I am confident that the coming
few days will witness Jordanian-Iraqi measures to facilitate the return of those
who want to go back to Iraq.”
“I am glad Jordan does not consider the Iraqis in the Kingdom as refugees,
preventing other countries from attracting qualified, skilled and educated
Iraqis who are needed to build their own country.”
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees warned last week that tens of thousands of
Iraqis returning to the country face deplorable living conditions and a highly
dangerous security situation.
It estimates that 4.2 million Iraqis have been displaced since the US-led
invasion in March 2003, including around 500,000 who fled to Jordan and 1.4
million to Syria.
The Iraqi Red Crescent said on Monday that between 25,000 and 28,000 Iraqis have
returned from Syria since mid-September.
Officials here said that there have been no signs that Iraqis are leaving
Jordan.
During his meeting with Hashemi, Dahabi reiterated that Jordan is keen to
restore peace and security in Iraq, reaffirming Jordan’s repeated support for
national reconciliation efforts under way in the eastern neighbour.
The premier added that Jordanian diplomacy is utilising its contacts with the
international community to help Iraq find a way out of its current situation.