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.