Syria is ready to receive Iraqi refugees
Syria-Iraq, Politics, 3/22/2003

The Syrian authorities have informed the UN organizations readiness to receive Iraqi refugees, according to a Syrian minister.

The Syrian minister of local administration Hilal al-Atrash said that Syria "notified the UN agencies its readiness to receive Iraqi refugees." So far no information have come from an official Syrian source indicating establishing camps along the borders between the two states which extends to 600 Km and were not closed.

News reports said that the Syrian- Iraqi borders were open both ways on Thursday and the traffic movement seemed to be normal at al-Tanf border center ( 300 Km to the north East of Damascus ) several hours after the beginning of the American attacks against Iraq.

The UN high commissioner Rod Lobrez asked on Thursday countries neighboring Iraq to keep their borders open in order to permit the entry of all provisional protection seekers. The UNHCR on March 11 expected 600,000 Iraqis to leave Iraq especially for Turkey and Iran, while thousands of them will head for Jordan and Syria.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Sharq al-Awsat: Arab leaders can stop Iraqi war with free will   (3/20/2003)
  Syria: US actions in violations of UN resolutions and charter   (3/19/2003)
  Tlass: US will kill the UN charter if acts without international support   (3/17/2003)

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