Military

DATE=04/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=UN/AFGHAN/IRAN (L-Only)

NUMBER=2-288302

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=GENEVA

INTERNET=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The U-N refugee assistance agency, U-N-H-C-R, says an agreement signed Wednesday by Iran and Afghanistan will facilitate the voluntary return of tens-of-thousands of Afghan refugees. The U-N-H-C-R says that, since the start of a program of assisted returns from Pakistan on March first, more than 150-thousand Afghan refugees have returned home. Dale Gavlak has the details from Geneva.

TEXT: The agreement signed by Afghanistan's interim government, Iran and the U-N-H-C-R, sets out guidelines for an orderly return of hundreds-of-thousands of Afghans living in Iran, and emphasizes that returns should be voluntary.

It allows them to take their property and savings when they return. Afghanistan also agrees to facilitate the recovery of lost land or property, and to recognize returnees' legal status, such as educational and professional qualifications, births, deaths and marriages.

The agreement stresses the importance of refugees being fully informed of conditions in their home areas before they leave Iran. Under the accord, Afghan authorities are responsible for protecting returnees from discrimination

or persecution.

Afghan Minister for Repatriation Enayatullah Nazeri, speaking through a translator, thanked host countries, such as Iran, for their generosity, but urged them to allow Afghan refugees to choose for themselves the right time to

return home. He emphasized that returns should be voluntary.

Many Afghans living in Iran acquired vocational training and skills now useful in rebuilding their country.

U-N special envoy to Afghanistan Lakhtar Brahimi also urged donor countries to make good on their pledges to aid Afghan refugees returning home.

Donor countries have contributed 128-million of 271-million dollars pledged for refugee assistance. But the refugee

agency says it is quickly running out of money at a time when the pace of refugee return is expected to escalate following Wednesday's agreement. (Signed)

NEB/DG/TW