LARGE REFUGEE GROUP PLANNING TO RETURN FROM WEST TIMOR UNTAET Chief of Staff N.Parameswaran today returned from a five-day visit to Indonesian West Timor during which he held discussions with refugee leaders over next week's expected return of some 2,000 East Timorese refugees.

The return of the refugees is scheduled to take place on 12 September and will be coordinated by the UNHCR and the IOM, in conjunction with the Peacekeeping Force and the Indonesian military. Xanana Gusmão, Deputy SRSG Dennis McNamara, and the Chief of Staff are expected to be present at the border when the group crosses. The returnees will be met by district leaders and welcomed with a traditional ceremony.

The refugees, who are originally from East Timor's Ainaro District, are being represented in the negotiations by Câncio Lopes de Carvalho, a former commander of the Mahidi militia in Ainaro. These negotiations have been undertaken in close consultation with community and national leaders in East Timor as well as UNTAET's Serious Crimes Unit.

In related news, the UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Refugees, Soren Jessen-Petersen, is scheduled to pay a one-week visit to East Timor and Indonesia beginning next week during which he hopes to discuss the situation of East Timorese refugees in West Timor and the UNHCR's role in supporting efforts to achieve durable solutions.

Jessen-Petersen will arrive in Indonesia on Sunday 9 September, where he is scheduled to meet with Indonesian police and military officials. He is scheduled to arrive in Dili on 13 September and is expected to meet with SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Deputy SRSG, and members of the East Timorese leadership.