ILAM -- Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator of Iraq, said on Saturday Iraqi refugees in Iran would return their home country according to plans that are being laid out.

Bremer, quoted by the Iraqi radio, said some 200,000 Iraqi refugees are residing in Iran now adding that repatriation of the Iraqi refugees should be made in coordination with UNHCR.

Bremer said programs are being developed to meet the needs of the returnees upon their arrival to their motherlands, IRNA reported.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said on July 22 that repatriation of Iraqi refugees residing in Iran will begin in August, if the grounds are well prepared. Lubbers said the project necessitates an agreement between the UNHCR and local Iraqi officials adding: "The United States and Britain have many doubts regarding repatriation of Iraqi refugees and the UNHCR is trying to ensure a peaceful return of the Iraqi refugees."

Lubbers put the number of Iraqi refugees residing in Iran at over 200,000, half of all Iraqi refugees in the world.

He appreciated the Iranian government for its efforts to repatriate Afghan refugees to their country and said such good experiences can be used in repatriation of Iraqi refugees.

The UNHCR commissioner noted that the United Nations is ready to provide services including transportation, food, medicine and even financial support for refugees in Iran or Iraq.