Kyrgyzstan looking into way to repatriate Kyrgyz children from Iraq

Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev (Kabar)

Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan is looking into ways to address the issue of repatriating Kyrgyz children held in Iraq.

An inter-ministerial working group on the repatriation and reintegration of minors in Iraq has been formed and the competent state entities are cooperating to return in Kyrgyzstan the minor children held in Iraqi penitentiary institutions, the government’s press service has said.

The group will travel to Baghdad to process the relevant documents and ensure the return of the children to Kyrgyzstan, the press service said, national news agency KABAR reported.

An action plan for the rehabilitation and reintegration of the children with the active involvement of competent professionals, including psychologists and theologians, has been developed by the working group.

The initiatives, plans and actions are under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Jenish Razakov.

Ongoing activities and negotiations with Iraqi authorities are under the personal control of Prime Minister Mukhammedkalyi Abylgaziev.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic is in charge of all negotiations with the Iraqi authorities on the repatriation of children. In turn, the Ministry of Labor and Social Development, the Ministry of Health and other structures are carrying out preparatory activities for further rehabilitation and adaptation of children,” Razakov said.

Kyrgyzstan is also exerting efforts to obtain credible information on the whereabouts and number of Kyrgyz citizens currently in Syria.