BACKGROUNDER
MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS
REFUGEE WORKING GROUP
PLENARY MEETING
GENEVA, DECEMBER 12-14, 1995
As past of the Middle East Peace Process Multilateral
Negotiations, the eighth plenary meeting of the Refugee
Working Group is being held in Geneva December 12-14,
1995. Switzerland is hosting over 45 international
delegations at the meeting. Canada is the chair or
"gavel-holder" of the Refugee Working Group.
The Refugee Working Group is part of the multilateral
track of the Middle East Peace Process. This track
addresses broad regional issues whose solutions require
coordinated action and the international community's
support. Established in Moscow in January, 1992, the
Refugee Working Group complements and supports the
bilateral peace process' efforts to resolve the Palestinian
refugee question.
The Refugee Working Group focuses on seven main
themes, each with a lead country or "shepherd".
The themes are Data Bases (the shepherd for which
is Norway), Family Reunification (shepherded by France),
Human Resources Development (the U.S.A), Job Creation
and Vocational Training (also the U.S.A.), Public
Health (Italy), Child Welfare( Sweden) and Economic
and Social Infrastructure (the European Union). In
cooperation with the regional parties, the shepherds
are responsible for defining needs, developing responses
and mobilizing required resources. During the plenary
session, each shepherd will be making a report on
the progress achieved under their theme since the
last plenary.
The Refugee Working Group is one of five Working
Groups in the multilateral track of the peace process.
The other Working Groups deal with water resources,
environment, regional economic development, and arms
control and regional security issues.
A press conference will be held following the meeting
at 3:00pm on Thursday, December 14, 1995 at the Noga
Hilton Hotel, Geneva, site of the meeting.
|