Iran: U.S. calls on MKO group to accept Albania resettlement offer
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 18 March 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iran: U.S. calls on MKO group to accept Albania resettlement offer, 18 March 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/519a6b164f.html [accessed 18 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 18, 2013
The United States has called on the leaders of exiled Iranian opposition group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO or MEK) to "immediately" accept an offer from Albania to resettle 210 of its members.
Tirana's March 16 offer was rejected by the National Council of Resistance of Iran, which oversees the MEK.
It said asylum for only a small portion of the group was unacceptable.
More than 3,000 MEK members currently live at a former U.S. military base near Baghdad.
The arrangement is meant to be temporary while the United Nations works to relocate the exiles abroad.
The group previously lived in a compound known as Camp Ashraf in northeastern Iraq, which twice experienced deadly raids by Iraqi security forces.
The U.S. State Department is urging the group's "unconditional cooperation."
Based on reporting by AP and RFE/RL
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
