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Belarus works with IOM, UNHCR on returning refugees home

MINSK, 23 November (BelTA) – Belarus, together with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, is developing measures to return refugees from the Belarusian-Polish border, Police Colonel Aleksei Begun, Head of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Belarusian Internal Affairs Ministry, told reporters in Minsk on 23 November, BelTA has learned.

"Currently, representatives of the International Organization for Migration, representatives of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are in Belarus, holding a number of meetings with the government bodies with an aim to devise joint steps to resolve the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border," said Alexei Begun.

According to him, the parties are set to develop joint measures for the return persons who apply for return to their homeland, and also "the regulation of their legal status, possible admission to a third country that is willing to accept them."

Today, Minsk is hosting a regular meeting of the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives. At the meeting, the parties are scheduled to sum up the results of the meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government on 12 November, to outline the steps to implement the documents and agreements adopted by the heads of government. The council is expected to discuss the issues related to the activities of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center in terms of coordinating the interaction of national security agencies and special services to suppress the propaganda of terrorist ideology, technical and financial support of militants and also the activities of the joint commission of the states parties to the CIS agreement on cooperation in combating illegal migration.

"Recently, the CIS heads of state has adopted a statement intensifying cooperation in the field of migration. Therefore, the joint commission, which will meet for a regular meeting in December, is to contribute to the implementation of this statement. The council will review the migrant situation in the CIS states, promising areas of cooperation, various measures related to the possible exodus of refugees from Afghanistan and other states with local and armed conflicts. They can apply for refugee status or subsidiary protection," Aleksei Begun said.

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