Brussels, 02/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The announcement that EU countries would take in 10,000 Iraqi refugees has been welcomed by several organisations, including the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). “The conclusions are the most decisive and positive step the EU collectively has taken so far on resettling refugees,” the UNHCR says in a press release. “The UNHCR and other international stakeholders look forward to seeing the member states act swiftly to fulfil their commitment,” it went on. The UNHCR estimates that there are, in the region (the countries bordering on Iraq), some 80,000 needing to be resettled over the next three years, with 20,000 of these going to Europe. Germany will take 2,500. “Member states should now assume their joint responsibility in order to meet the stated objective,” said Piotr Mazurkiewicz, Secretary General of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE). He said, too, that the EU and member states must, in their contacts with the Iraqi government, “raise the issue of the Christian community,” and other religious minorities, which find themselves under threat of disappearance. The Assyria Council of Europe, however, has expressed its disappointment at the Council's decision. “Instead of advocating resettlement, we should put pressure on Iraq, the EU and the US to finance a good repatriation programme in order to help refugees to go back to Iraq,” it says. (B.C./transl.rt)