KABUL - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation discussed the refugee problems with a number of envoys of the European countries where Afghan refugees are residing.

In the meeting with ambassadors of Germany, Italy, Britain, Czech, Sweden, France, Holland, Finland, Denmark, and Norway Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani called the problem of Afghan asylum seekers in European Countries a bilateral problem and emphasized the commitment of the Afghan Government for talks with these countries in order to find a bilateral and comprehensive solution to this problem.

“We expect European Countries to deal with Afghan asylum seekers according to the situation in Afghanistan and the international conventions frame work and the memoranda of understanding that some of these European countries have signed with Afghanistan.” Minister Rabbani said.

Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi Minister of Refugees and Repatriation said “Afghanistan is interested in reopening negotiations on MoUs that were signed in the previous years with some of the European countries and wants to start negotiations with some others, especially Germany, in this respect.”

In response to Minister Balkhi’s call, the European Ambassadors showed willingness to reopen negotiation on related MoUs but added that they would implement projects to create more job opportunities in the country which would prevent increase of immigration. (KP)