Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you. I have no further questions, and I really appreciate your candidness, sir.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Did you put it clearly to our government that 80,000 is the number you are aiming for, or are you stating publicly 25,000?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  You think you would like, or are you urging Canada to do this, sir?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Can you explain departures? Are these departures inside Iraq to neighbouring countries or from neighbouring countries to the destination country?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you. Indeed, the work you're doing needs to be commended, and I know how difficult it is for you to even come up with those figures. You said you're looking at 25,000 refugees to be settled in 16 countries. Is this the number you have chosen, or is this the number you are working with because you know those countries will only take those numbers?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  So would it be your recommendation that the number be tripled--you've indicated 80,000 and 25,000 times three is 75,000--because the need is there? And if the need is there and these people do not get settled elsewhere, they could face difficulties.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Abraham, by signalling only 25,000 are you not giving the incorrect figure? Some countries could use that. For example, Canada, the U.S., Australia can use the numbers and say, “Look, UNHCR says 25,000 between the 16 countries, and we're taking 27,000. We're okay. We're doing fine.”

Citizenship and Immigration committee  When you say states, are you talking about the United States or the states?

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. When we look at the clerk, the clerk points to you. So will you--

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Mr. Chair, I have a point of order or a point of discussion. In having this hearing, I think the committee has overlooked inviting the Iraqi ambassador to Canada to hear his perspective and to hear the country of Iraq's official perspective. I would therefore ask if I may make a motion, or if we can unanimously accept that we should invite him.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Okay. That's what I wanted to ask you to do.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I think it is only fitting for us to let them know that this committee is currently doing a study on Iraqi refugees.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the next five minutes, Chair.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  As an individual in the late fifties and early sixties, I did go to Munich. My father was there on an Arbeitvisum. You had difficulties at that time in Germany, and there were a lot of difficulties towards young people and older people. A lot of work has been done since then. I would recommend that if you really want to know how we're successful in Canada, there's the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which has been translated in over 35 languages.