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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 486 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 486

Calling on the Government of Iraq to compensate the former residents of 
   Camp Ashraf for their assets seized by groups affiliated with the 
                          Government of Iraq.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 28, 2017

Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. Rohrabacher, Ms. 
   Judy Chu of California, and Mr. Sessions) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Calling on the Government of Iraq to compensate the former residents of 
   Camp Ashraf for their assets seized by groups affiliated with the 
                          Government of Iraq.

Whereas resettlement of 3,000 Iranian refugees in Iraq, members of the 
        Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK), was completed in September 2016, and nearly 
        2,700 of these residents were relocated in Albania;
Whereas in 2004, the United States Government recognized these dissidents as 
        ``protected persons'' under the Fourth Geneva Convention;
Whereas they were under the protection of the United States in Camp Ashraf until 
        2009, when their protection was handed over to the Government of Iraq, 
        as reflected in the United States Embassy Statement on Transfer of 
        Security Responsibility for Camp Ashraf of December 28, 2008;
Whereas these residents were relocated outside Iraq under the supervision of 
        United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), with active and 
        vital engagement of the United States Government and full cooperation of 
        the MEK;
Whereas the United States Government and the United Nations Assistance Mission 
        for Iraq (UNAMI) relocation plan for the transfer of these dissidents 
        out of Iraq called on the Government of Iraq to ensure the safekeeping 
        of the property left at Camps Ashraf and Liberty belonging to such 
        dissidents;
Whereas the Memorandum of Understanding of 25 December 2011 between UNAMI and 
        the Government of Iraq outlining the voluntary relocation of the 
        residents of Camp Ashraf called on the Government of Iraq to ensure the 
        safekeeping of the moveable and immovable properties belonging to the 
        residents of Camp Ashraf with the understanding that such properties 
        could be sold by its owners;
Whereas the United States Government and UNAMI expressed to the residents that 
        they would be allowed to sell their properties at Camps Ashraf and 
        Liberty;
Whereas UNHCR stated in July 2016 before the departure of the remaining 
        residents of Camp Ashraf from Iraq that ``The successful implementation 
        of this initiative has also been assisted by the residents' commitment, 
        despite difficulties, to meeting the bulk of the associated costs, 
        particularly for long term support of all residents relocated out of 
        Iraq who have no access to state-sponsored assistance.'';
Whereas the residents' commitment to pay for their expenses was based on the 
        assumption that they would be able to sell their properties in Camps 
        Ashraf and Liberty in order to finance their relocation, day-to-day 
        living costs, and long-term accommodations; and
Whereas the Government of Iraq firmly prevented the residents from selling their 
        properties, subsequently seized by groups affiliated with the Government 
        of Iraq: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Government of Iraq to compensate the 
        Iranian dissidents for their seized assets in Camps Ashraf and 
        Liberty in order to finance their living costs and long-term 
        accommodation in their new countries of refuge, particularly in 
        Albania; and
            (2) calls on the United States Government to urge the 
        Government of Iraq to compensate these dissidents.
                                 <all>
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