(The Kurdistan Observer) Jan 27, 2002. In an interview with the KDP daily newspaper, Birayeti, the Erbil-based Kurdistan Regional Government Minister of Humanitarian Assistance, Dr. Shafiq Qazaz, said his government is
concerned over the latest news suggesting that some countries in  Europe are planning to repatriate Kurdish refugees.

The minister indicated that the regional government has informed those countries, specifically the Netherlands, through their  representatives abroad of their disagreement with the decision to deport thousands of Kurds back to Kurdistan.

Mr. Qazaz added that his ministry has contacted several human rights 
organizations to come to the aid of those refugees, such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) which assists rejected asylum seekers to return home on a voluntary basis.

The KRG official said that those countries decided not to grant the status of asylum to several thousand citizens of Southern Kurdistan following trips by their officials to Kurdistan concluding that Southern Kurdistan is blessed with peace, tranquillity, and secure economic conditions.