Vic: 90 Kosovars sign to leave

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2000
Vic: 90 Kosovars sign to leave

Ninety Kosovar refugees in Victoria have signed notices of intent to be returned to
their homeland.

The Department of Immigration is confident the remaining 56 Kosovars in the state will
sign by the end of the day.

Department spokesman PHIL MAYNE has told reporters Immigration Minister PHILIP RUDDOCK
is working to meet a number of requests put by the Kosovars.

Those requests include that their departure paperwork does NOT state they left the
country voluntarily.

He says the department is confident the Kosovars will all agree at the end of the day.

Mr RUDDOCK had set a deadline of 9am (AEST) today for the Kosovars to agree to leave,
but that was extended as negotiations continue at the Bandiana base in northern Victoria.

Mr MAYNE says he hoped all the Kosovars are removed from Australia on or by the weekend.

He says they'll be bussed to a waiting flight either in Melbourne or Sydney.

AAP RTV gr/sp/jlw/jn

KEYWORD: KOSOVO AUST LEAVE (WODONGA)

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