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then refused the refugee which meant that UNHCR had then to submit the refugee's case to a second country In fact UNHCR are now sometimes submitting a refugee's case to a second country while the first country is still considering. My Canadian colleague said his Government was not completely satisfied with the RASRO and DISERO reports which they thought contained insufficient detail. Mr Cooper advised us that UNHCR now had more elaborate statistics to the end of December 1985 which would be issued shortly.
As instructed, I mentioned that the UK would view any request to continue the programmez sympathetically. My Danish colleague said his Government would also be prepared to consider such a request sympathetically Ro-one else gave their governments' likely reaction.
Iranian Refugees
8.
UNHCR wished to make a particular appeal to governments to take the Muslim Iranians who tended to be rejected in favour of Baha'is or Jews.
Several participants expressed disquiet that UNHCR had split the Iranian refugees into religious groups in the briefing papers Mr Simmance explained that this was to emphasise the point that the non-Baha'is and non-Jews had very limited resettlement opportunities. My Dutch colleague announced that his Government would be prepared to accept Muslim Iranians and drew UNHCR's attention to the queue jumping through irregular movements (which particularly referred to Iranian refugees who leave their country of first asylum independently in order to seek asylum in other countries). UNHCR are, of course, aware of this problem.
9. The ICRC observer drew our attention to the Iranian refugees in Iraq who are entirely an ICRC responsibility. There are about 350 in two camps in a very dangerous situation. ICRC would like these refugees to be resettled: some have already left the camps to try to get to Turkey to seek resettlement opportunities. The ICRC representative asked for governments' assistance in resettling the refugees for whom the ICRC have responsibility.
Disabled Refugees
10. You will see I have noted Denmark's and Norway's current position on the briefing paper. I gave the UK position, as instructed.
Other Groups
Lesotho
11. Mr Issaka informed us that, as the South African authorities may soon be putting pressure on the new Lesotho authorities to expel the South African refugees with African National Congress (ANC). connections, UNHCR may soon be faced with the need to find resettlement places quickly for these people. If they could not be resettled in front line states - which UNHCR would consider first but which may not be possible if South Africa applies pressure on these states not to accept them, UNHCR would then be contacting our Missions in Geneva for assistance in resettling these refugees.
/General Points
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