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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman July 12, 1999 U.S. Announces Plan To Help Kosovar Refugees Return Home The State Department has contracted an international organization to help Kosovar refugees in the United States return to their homes in Kosovo. This fulfills a commitment that the U.S. made when it first offered refuge to up to 20,000 Kosovars in late April. The U.S. program to provide refuge for Kosovars was mounted as a part of an international effort to relieve pressure on Macedonia by evacuating refugees to third countries. Our plan to facilitate returns is in line with guidelines for voluntary refugee returns from third countries, prepared by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Those guidelines, which UNHCR discussed with governments in Geneva earlier today, state that while conditions in Kosovo "remain precarious, the situation is now considered to be sufficiently secure." U.S. diplomats attended UNHCR's meeting. The Department will rely on the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to arrange the return travel; IOM also brought the Kosovar refugees to the U.S. Refugees who want to return will be required to complete and sign an IOM application, which can be obtained by calling 1-800-748-4521. IOM then will arrange return transportation and notify the refugees when arrangements are complete. Beginning next week, refugees may find out more information on the return program at an IOM website on the Internet, at www.iom.int/iom/kosovo/index.html. Refugees may also consult their resettlement agency affiliate for information. Refugees will make the decision whether to return or to permanently resettle in the U.S. While the Department is not encouraging Kosovar refugees to return precipitously, it is responding to growing interest among them to return sooner rather than later. The return program is open to all Kosovar refugees evacuated from Macedonia under our special admissions effort, and who will have arrived in the U.S. by July 31. The evacuation program was announced by the Administration April 21, when it offered to provide refuge to up to 20,000 Kosovar refugees from Macedonia. To date, 9,955 Kosovar refugees have been admitted to the U.S. Refugees are still being evacuated from Macedonia to the U.S., but flights are expected to end by the end of July. The State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration will fund the return travel of Kosovar refugees who depart the U.S. before May 1, 2000. These refugees also will not have to repay a travel loan that they agreed to before they arrived here. This effort will help refugees return who can't afford to otherwise. Refugees may return without U.S. assistance at any time. [end of document]