UNHCR expects government to appoint special committee

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, June 18, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The United Nations High Commissioner's Office for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Maria Virginia Trimarco says she hopes the Venezuelan government will appoint the committee that will regularize the migratory status of at least 2,000 Colombians that have fled to Venezuela escaping political violence. 

"We expect the government to name members of the committee on Friday coinciding with World Refugee Day."

Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel had promised to help the UNHCR in implementing the Venezuelan Refugee law passed in 2001, which stipulates the conformation of the committee with representatives from the Defense and Foreign ministries, as well as other relevant institutions. 

Trimarco highlights the plight of Colombians living in border areas and warns that the situation will become worse ... "we also hope that the committee will deal with a large number of Colombian citizens living illegally in Venezuela."

According to Trimarco, Ecuador and Costa Rica have the best legislation on displaced persons ... "those governments have also implemented and acted on the law."