IOM Director General William Lacy Swing and State Secretary of the
Ministry of Interior Klaus-Dieter Fritsche, are today signing an
agreement that further develops a long-standing collaboration
assisting migrants who want to return to their home countries.

The agreement, to be signed in Berlin, will allow the two
entities to continue an assisted voluntary return  programme
that started in 1979 and which has since helped more than half a
million migrants who have wanted to return to their home countries,
to do so.

"The voluntary return of migrants to their home countries in a
humane and dignified manner is of utmost importance in managing
migration," says IOM's Director General William Lacy Swing.
"Germany was a pioneer when it initiated such a programme more than
32 years ago and which subsequently served as a model across the
continent. For IOM, reintegration assistance is essential for
sustainable returns and Germany's commitment to providing this has
been a key factor in migrants successfully returning home."

For further information, please contact:

Danijela Medved

IOM Berlin

Tel: + 49 30 27877814

E-mail: "mailto:dmedved@iom.int">dmedved@iom.int