By IRNA
Tehran : UNHCR Headquarters hosted on 28 September in Geneva the 13th Tripartite Commission Meeting between the Governments of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Afghanistan and UNHCR on the joint programme for voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Iran, according to UNHCR press release issued on Sunday.
The Iranian delegation was headed by Mr. Seyyed Taghi
Ghaemi, Advisor to the Iranian Interior Minister and Director General of the Bureau by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Afghan delegation was headed by Mr. Abdul Ghader Ahedi, Deputy Minister of Refugees and Repatriation (MORR). The meeting was chaired by the UNHCR Director for the Asia Bureau Ms. Janet Lim.
UNHCR offices in Iran and Afghanistan were represented by Mr. Sten A. Bronee and Mr. Salvatore Lombardo respectively.
The Tripartite meeting examined the current repatriation trends and noted with concern the low trends of voluntary
repatriation over the past couple of years.
The parties reaffirmed nevertheless their already expressed commitment to the safe, dignified, gradual and voluntary return taking into account the absorption capacity of the Afghan authorities in the current situation inside Afghanistan and its effect on the possibility of the a sustainable livelihood for refugees upon return.
The parties recognized the need for end called on the international community to continue its support for the
reconstruction of Afghanistan and to intensify efforts to secure greater assistance for the reintegration programs for returnees in Afghanistan.
The parties welcomed as an essential element in enhancing the return options for refugees, the offer by the Islamic Republic of Iran of granting work and temporary residence permits to Afghan refugees wishing to return to Iran. The parties also welcomed the progress made by the Afghan authorities in allocating land and housing to returning refugees and encouraged those efforts to intensify the scheme.
UNHCR representative in Iran, Mr. Sten A. Bronee said, “All parties seemed happy with the results of this meeting. The aim of this meeting was to try find more durable solutions to the problems of the 910,000 remaining Afghan refugees, most of whom have lived in Iran for over 20 years.”
He thanked the Iranian government for its hostility during the past 20-25 years towards Afghan refugees and also for all their efforts in trying to find durable solution to the problems of this population.
The next Tripartite Commission meeting is scheduled to take place in Kabul, Afghanistan in January 2008.
Following the TC meeting, all representatives are also to take part in the Executive Committee meeting of the UNHCR which takes place once a year in Geneva from 1-5 October.
ExCom with 72 member states meets annually in Geneva to review and approve UNHCR’s programs and budge. It also advises on international protection and discusses a wide range of other issues with UNHCR and its intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.
ExCom’s Standing Committee meets several times a year to carry on with ExCom’s Standing Committee meets several times a year to carry on with ExCom’s work between plenary sessions.