2009-05-28/Aid to Iraq held back to ensure agreement for returning asylum-seekers – report

By Michael de Laine, The Copenhagen Voice, 28 May 2009

The Danish People’s Party refused to send Dkr 80 million to Iraq for reconstruction until the two governments had signed a deal allowing Denmark to return failed Iraqi asylum-seekers back to their home country.

The Danish People’s Party (DF) refused to send Dkr 80 million to Iraq for reconstruction until the two governments had signed a deal allowing Denmark to return failed Iraqi asylum-seekers back to their home country, according to the daily newspaper Politiken.

The newspaper said the money was included in the national budget for 2009, at a time when the funding was contingent on Iraq accepting failed Iraqi asylum-seekers.

But Kristian Thulesen Dahl, the chair of DF’s parliamentary group and also the chair of the parliamentary finance committee, delayed the release of the money by asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs a number of questions.

“We wanted to wait until there was a repatriation agreement before we released the money,” Kristian Thulesen Dahl told Politiken. “It was our understanding that it was fair to use this money as a means of telling the Iraqis that we want to help you, but you must also take back your own citizens.”

One of the questions to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked whether the ministry had considered telling the Iraqi authorities that releasing the Dkr 80 million was contingent on a repatriation agreement between Denmark and Iraq.

In her reply, Ulla Tørnæs, the Minister for Development Cooperation, said: “In its discussions with the Iraqi authorities, the government made clear that a repatriation agreement is an important element in the overall Danish-Iraqi relationship, including a continuation of the aid cooperation.”

Frank Aaen of the Red/Greens, told the newspaper that the government has acceded to DF’s demands, and “has taken the Iraqi people hostage in order to be able to deport 282 Iraqis.”

Click here to read the Copenhagen Voice story, ‘Iraq threatened to agreement with Denmark on asylum-seekers – report’.

Click here to read the Politiken report, ‘DF forhalede bistand til Irak’.