510,000 Afghan Refugees Repatriated

He said that the number of Afghan nationals repatriated should reach 1.5 million by the end of March 2004, adding that Afghan nationals still residing in Iran in 2005 will not be classified as refugees and will not be eligible for United Nations humanitarian assistance.

He stated that welfare services will be provided to Iraqi nationals with new identification cards, but said the green ID cards are no longer valid.

He stated that his department is not responsible for Iranian nationals who enter Iraq illegally for specific purposes such as pilgrimage to holy shrines, smuggling goods, or gunrunning.

"It is important to say here that the unofficial opening of borders with Iraq and the unrestricted sale of guns has led to the entrance of illegal guns into the country," he added.

"While some Iranian nationals, due to the current situation, go to Iraq illegally to make pilgrimage, many profiteers go to Iraq to smuggle various kinds of weapons into the country," Hosseini said.

NP/HG

End

MNA