Zebari, U.S. official discuss Iraqi refugees issue

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari on Sunday discussed with U.S. Department of State Senior Coordinator for Iraqi Refugees Ambassador James Foley the issue of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan, according to a ministry release. “The two sides stressed more efforts and connectivity with Iraqis residing in Syria and Jordan to encourage them to return home after security conditions have improved,” read the release as received by IraqiNews.com. Earlier in the day, Foley met with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Rafie al-Issawi as the two officials tackled means of facilitating the return of Iraqis to their country. According to figures released by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 4.4 million Iraqis have been displaced in the aftermath of the March 2003 U.S.-led invasion of their country. This number includes 2.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), while 2.2 million others left for neighboring countries, mainly Syria, Jordan and Egypt. According to UNHCR statistics, there are about 1.4 million Iraqis in Syria, more than 500,000 in Jordan and smaller figures in Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and the Gulf states. AmR (S) 1