Brasília, 6/17/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Brazil is once again going to have an office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. A refugee office was closed in 1998. According to Luiz Paulo Barreto, the executive secretary at the Ministry of Justice, who made the announcement, having the office in the country makes relations with the international organization easier. "It is like having the UN next door," said Barreto.

According to the head of the Americas office of the commisioner in Geneva, Hope Hanlan, "It is important for Brazil to know that it has this level of support."

At the moment, Brazil has 3,180 refugees from 47 countries. (AB)