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g)
h)
4.
will be forthcoming in the near future.
Item 7:
Status of Contributions and overall financial situation for 1976 and 1977
The UK contribution to the UNHCR Regular Programme for 1976 was £300,000. The delegation may announce that, subject to Parliamentary approval, the UK contribution for 1977 will be increased to £350,000.
Last year the UK delegation pointed out that it should not be left to a relatively small group of traditional donor governments to carry the main burden of financing the High Commissioner's work. The delegation might refer to this remark made last year and express our interest to know whether other governments have increased their financial support and whether there are new contributions from governments which previously did not contribute.
Item 8: Any Other Questions
The delegation may draw as necessary on the Annexes attached to this brief. An additional item might be to question the lack of any co-operation between UNHCR and UNDRO. This subject is covered in Annex D.
Fublic Relations
The delegation may deal with this topic at its discretion.
TACTICS
The delegation has discretion to decide these.
BACKGROUND
5. The General Assembly at its Fourth Session in 1949 decided to appoint a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to protect their interests. The High Commissioner's rôle was initially non-operational and limited mainly to the international protection of refugees. Subsequently, in 1952, the General Assembly authorised the High Commissioner to appeal for voluntary funds to enable aid to be given to refugees within his mandate.
6. The Executive Committee was established by General Assembly Resolution 1066 (XII) of 2 December 1957. The Committee is presently composed of representatives from 31 member States elected to serve for an indefinite period by ECOSOC, on the basis of wide geographical representation from those countries demonstrating an interest in, and devotion to, the solution of the refugee problem.
7. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports on the exercise of his functions to the Committee which meets in October in Geneva each year.
The terms of reference of the Executive Committee are set out in General Assembly Resolution 1166 (XII) as follows:
a)
b)
to advise the High Commissioner, at his request, in the exercise of his functions under the Statute of his Office;
to advise the High Commissioner as to whether it is appropriate for international assistance to be provided through his office
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c)
d)
e)