Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Congressional Testimony Before Foreign Affairs Committee on Camp Ashraf

Laila Jazayeri of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) has provided The Times with a transcript of testimony by US Secretary of State Clinton before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This follows reports of concern about the fate of Camp residents when the US withdraws troops from Iraq on 31 December 2011 under the Iraq/US status of forces agreement (SoFA). Earlier this year, the camp was attacked when troops returned to base under the SoFA, leading to fears for the safety of residents when the withdrawal is completed in just two months’ time.

Chairwoman Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) expressed her and other members’ concerns to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the safety of Camp Ashraf residents in Iraq, given the Iraqi government’s failure to comply with its international human rights obligations and the impending withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. Secretary Clinton responded that the US had received written assurances from the Iraqi government that it would treat the Ashraf residents humanely and that the US was pushing the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to work with the residents and the government to get them to a safe place. 

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) referred to an ad featuring a 14-year-old girl who fears extermination, and asked what the US was doing to prevent a massacre of the 3400 people at Camp Ashraf. Secretary Clinton replied that the State Department was reviewing the MEK’s designation in accordance with the DC circuit’s 2010 ruling, and that the humanitarian situation at Ashraf was not related to the MEK’s designation. She also urged the EU and other countries to favorably consider the resettlement of any Ashraf resident granted refugee status. 

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) criticized the State Department for not doing enough to ensure the safety of the Camp Ashraf residents, and asked if the State Department would comply with a request from Congress for information about the Camp Ashraf massacre. Secretary Clinton confirmed that the State Department would comply with the request. 

Rep. (Judge) Ted Poe (R-TX) asked Secretary Clinton what the US was doing to ensure the safety of the Camp Ashraf residents and to resolve the MEK’s designation. Secretary Clinton replied that she was personally focused on protecting the safety of the residents, and that the US was monitoring the situation closely and urging the Iraqi government to show restraint. She also stated that the US was pushing the UNHCR to move as many status determinations as possible, and that the US was moving as expeditiously as possible to a final resolution on the MEK’s designation. Judge Poe urged the Secretary to ensure the safety of the Camp Ashraf residents when the US withdraws from Iraq on December 31st. Secretary Clinton affirmed her commitment to their safety.

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