R 221528Z JUL 08
FM USMISSION GENEVA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6773

UNCLAS GENEVA 000566 
 
 
DEPT FOR PRM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF
SUBJECT: ANNUAL TRIPARTITE CONSULTATIONS ON REFUGEE 
RESETTLEMENT 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: PRM/A,s Director and Deputy Director, along 
with USCIS, HHS and NGO representatives, attended the June 30 
) July 2 Annual Tripartite Consultations on Refugee 
Resettlement hosted by UNHCR in Geneva. Some 170 participants 
representing 29 governments (both those currently resettling 
refugees and those contemplating resettlement programs), many 
NGOs and UNHCR resettlement field staff devoted 2.5 days to 
learning from UNHCR presentations and engaging in 
inter-active sessions on themes of common interest to 
resettlement countries.  In its presentation on regional 
resettlement needs, UNHCR announced a global need of over 
500,000 resettlement places in the next few years, although 
its own capacity to process and refer refugees to 
resettlement countries is less than a quarter of that number. 
A particular focus of the High Commissioner is addressing 
protracted refugee situations and the role of resettlement in 
these efforts. Eight break-out sessions on topics of common 
interest allowed participants to share experiences and 
concerns.  End Summary 
 
¶2.    UNHCR convened the fourteenth Annual Tripartite 
Consultations on Refugee Resettlement in Geneva June 30 ) 
July 2 with a record 170 participants representing current 
resettlement governments, governments considering becoming 
resettlement states, NGO representatives and UNHCR staff 
(both headquarters and field-based) involved in resettlement. 
USG representatives were Terry Rusch and Larry Bartlett of 
PRM,s Admissions office, DHS/USCIS Refugee Affairs Director 
Barbara Strack and HHS/Office of Refugee Resettlement Acting 
Director David Siegel. U.S. NGOs were represented by Bob 
Carey (International Rescue Committee), Ambassador Johnny 
Young (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops), Anne Wilson 
(Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service), Mark Hetfield 
(Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) and Elizabeth Campbell 
(Refugee Council USA). 
 
¶3.    Erika Feller, UNHCR,s Assistant High Commissioner for 
Protection, welcomed the participants on behalf of High 
Commissioner Guterres.  (Guterres joined participants in some 
of the &break out8 sessions on Day 2.) Feller noted the 
progress made to date in increasing the profile of 
resettlement within the organization and the significant 
increase in the number of referrals made by UNHCR (98,999 in 
2007) but also noted the significant gaps between the 
Resettlement Services, current estimate of the need for over 
500,000 resettlement places in the next few years, their 
capacity to refer them and the number of places currently 
available from resettlement countries. Feller described the 
High Commissioner,s focus on identifying durable solutions 
for stateless persons and those in protracted refugee 
situations and the important role resettlement can play in 
this process. She commended the Government of Canada for its 
leadership and hard work during the past year as chair of the 
Resettlement Working Group. 
 
¶4.    Rose Mapendo, a Congolese Tutsi former refugee and 
survivor of prolonged detention in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo ) now a U.S. citizen NGO leader ) gave an 
emotionally riveting presentation on her own experiences and 
implored the international community to continue to rescue 
and assist refugees in need around the world. 
 
¶5.    Vincent Cochetel, Chief of UNHCR,s Resettlement 
Service, reviewed: the 83 percent increase in resettlement 
referrals made in 2007; significantly increased departures 
(49,868); a 72 percent increase in the resettlement of Women 
at Risk cases; the increase in the number of resettlement 
countries (now over 20); the availability in the near future 
of a transit facility in Romania where urgent resettlement 
cases could be taken for processing and the likely opening of 
a similar transit center in the Philippines at a later date; 
and the High Commissioner,s focus on addressing protracted 
situations through the use of all durable solutions ) 
including resettlement. 
 
¶6.    Four regional resettlement needs presentations were 
provided in breakout session format which allowed 
participants to obtain from UNHCR updated information on 
populations in need of resettlement and discuss particular 
logistical or other challenges to undertaking resettlement 
processing for them.  USG participants covered all sessions. 
 
¶7.    A special session involving interested governments and 
UNHCR representatives focused on the resettlement needs of 
Palestinians from Iraq. The 2,000 in Al Waleed camp near the 
Syrian border, the 726 in Al Tanf camp located in the 
no-man,s land between Iraq and Jordan and the 296 in El Hol 
camp in Syria represent the highest priority resettlement 
cases for UNHCR. Sudan has offered to allow up to 2,000 to 
resettle in Khartoum but UNHCR is looking for additional 
resettlement assistance from other governments as well. 
Brazil, Chile, Canada, Sweden and the U.S. have already 
resettled Palestinians from Iraq. Several governments in 
attendance pledged willingness to consider additional 
Palestinian cases. 
 
¶8.    Most of days two and three were devoted to eight 
break-out sessions which afforded participants the 
opportunity to share experiences and develop recommendations 
for adoption and implementation by ATC participants. Topics 
including:  how best to offer assistance to new resettlement 
countries in launching national programs; 
challenges/opportunities in family reunification ) including 
use of DNA testing; resettling refugees with serious medical 
needs; resettlement of women, girls and children at risk; use 
of resettlement in addressing protracted situations; 
employment,s role in integration; and experience to date 
with Iraqi resettlement  were covered.  The USG and US NGO 
reps took the lead in four of the eight sessions. 
 
¶9.    The United Kingdom assumed the chair of the Refugee 
Working Group for the coming year. 
 
 
TICHENOR