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The Five Power proposals on Namibia, endorsed by the Security Council in Resolution 431, envisage a critical role for UNHCR in the return home of Namibiars. To this end, UNHCR participated in the recent mission to Namibia, led by Mr. Antisaari, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
ready to discharge ou responsibility as the situation evolves.
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We are
The Government of Bangladesh formally requested the Secretary-General to ask us to co-ordinate humanitarian assistance to over 200,000 persons who had crossed the border from Burma. We are doing so, and are now, at the request of both Governments, also seeking to facilitate the repatriation of those who wish to return voluntarily.
In Cyprus, I continue to serve as Co-ordinator of U.N. Humanitarian Assistance in accordance with the wishes of the Secretary-General and the parties concerned.
Mr. Chairman, since assuring Office, I have been left in no doubt as to the multitude of essential tasks facing UNHCR. Document A/AC.96/553 and its addendum spell out our programmes for 1979 in full, and report on our assistance activities since this Committee last met. I shall not try to summarize their contents. Rather, I should like to share certain preoccupations with you.
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Fundamentally, and in accordance with paragraph 1 of its Statute, UNHCR must seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees, by promoting their voluntary repatriation, or their assimilation in new communities, either in countries of first asylum, or through resettlement in third countries. This objective must be systematically pursued in the absolute conviction that the refugee must not only
be helped to help himself, but also be enabled to contribute productively to the
community around him.
I am particularly happy that this has been possible in a number of recent situations. Thus, voluntary repatriation has provided the answer for those who have returned in independence to Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. Our special humanitarian operations, undertaken on behalf of the repatriants, have now been phased out, commendable results having been achieved. Likewise, I am gratified that settlements in Tanzania, Katumba and Kigwe, that had needed alloca- tions under our programmes in earlier years, have recently been handed over to the