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Reference....
NOTE FOR THE FILE
37TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF UNHCR: GENERAL DEBATE: 7 OCTOBER 1986
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CODE 18-77
AWO Ltd. 7/84
1.
Finland spoke about the need for prompt action on existing and new refugee crises, consisting of effective emergency response rapid establishment of basic services and of income generating activities, pending the achievement of durable solutions. They also spoke about the reorganisation and finance of UNHCR, RASRO, refugee women, durable solutions and self-sufficiency, and Finland's support for the activities of UNHCR. Finland stated their sincere hope that consensus on military attacks would be reached in the near future. On detention they hoped that the working group established by the Sub-Committee on international protection would achieve positive results. Finally they announced their intention to introduce a quota system for resettlement of refugees in addition to their family reunificatio: programme.
2. Colombia spoke about new mass flows of refugees and migrant which had resulted in the clouding of the distinction between refugees and migrants. They stated the cause of such flows as national injustices in the social and political fields, the economic imbalance between North and South, and conflicts. They said that states should not hide behind outmoded legal instruments or closed out borders. The 1951 Convention should still form the basis of protection for refugees but that states should not stick to a narrow interpretation of the definition and obligations defined therein. Refugees should be given the benefit of the doubt. On military attacks Colombia expressed concern at the postponement of consideration of this subject. They thought that a regional approach may lead to subsequent universal consensus on principles to prohibit military attacks on refugee camps. They also spoke on the need to link relief assistance for refugees with longer term development programmes in the least developed countries and on the reorganisation of UNHCR.
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3. The Sudan concentrated mainly on their own problems. They spoke of their record in affording a welcome to refugees, local integration of refugees in the Sudan, voluntary repatriation, the root causes of refugee flows into Sudan, the burden placed on least developed countries by refugees, the need for development programmes in such countries in addition to refugee assistance programmes, the need to include assistance spontaneous settlement of refugees within UNHCR programmes, and a call for further international assistance to help the Sudan meet its obligations towards refugees. In this context the new Sudanese government has resolved to bas policies on refugees on two general principles: a) that the Sudan should not be allowed to suffer as a result of problems arising from its role as host to refugees and that the Sudanese society should likewise be
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