A voluntary departure policy distributed recently allows employees to decide for themselves whether they want to return to the United States, at the State Department's expense, before January 1 or stay put and ride out any technological problems caused by Y2K, according to the spokesperson.
According to a report today in The New York Times, the decision by the State Department came after officials agreed that Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova will be among the countries most affected by the changeover glitch.
The State Department will discuss the withdrawal procedure during a press conference today at 9:30 a.m. PT.
Although there are concerns that a slew of inconveniences will occur in some sectors of society, most specialists believe there will not be a catastrophic event in Russia due to the Year 2000 glitch.
In Russia, Y2K disruptions are likely to occur in the key sectors of electrical power, heat, telecommunications, transportation, and financial and emergency services, according to a recently revised information sheet provided by the State Department.
The Times reported that withdrawing those who wish to leave could cost millions of dollars, reflecting anxiety in Washington and among some government employees in Moscow.
The Year 2000 problem, also known as the millennium bug, stems from an old programming shortcut that used only two digits to signify years, such as 76 for 1976. If computer systems are not modified, some may mistake the year 2000 for the year 1900 and may cease to function or function erratically.
The Times cites an internal assessment by the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as saying short-term disruptions to electric power and phone service are likely to be inconveniences rather than real dangers for American government employees. Even if such disruptions occur, the review states, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow has its own backup generators, fuel, stores of food and water, and telephones.
Because some of the U.S. Embassy staff in Russia had deep worries about the Y2K glitch, the State Department's Office of Management issued a voluntary authorized departure, giving those who want to leave the chance to go, while allowing those less worried about Y2K to stay, according to the Times.
The estimated cost to the U.S. government is $10,000 per person for a 30-day departure, and $5,000 per person if the leave is limited to 15 days. That means the cost could be as high as $8 million and as low as $1.25 million, the Times reported.
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