37
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NOV 1986
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FROM UKMIS GENEVA
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SAVING TELEGRAM
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TO FCO: SAVING TELEGRAM NUMBER 38 OF 16 OCTOBER 1986
FILE REF UN 243/5
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240) Excom
SAVING INFO: UKMIS NEW YORK, ADDIS ABABA, ALGIERS, BAGHDAD, BANGKOK
DAR-ES-SALAAM, HANOI, HONG KONG, KAMPALA, KHARTOUM, KINSHASA, KUALA
LUMPUR, MOGADISHU, PRETORIA, RABAT, SAN JOSE, SINGAPORE, TEGUCIGALPA
TEHRAN, TEL AVIV, WASHINGTON
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: 6-13 OCTOBER
1.
The 37th Session of the UNHCR EXCOM met in Geneva from 6-13 October. The main issues covered were as follows.
DETENTION OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
2.
Secretariat paper on detention widely considered as ill-prepared. Considerable resistance from WEOG to virtually every element. After four major redrafts, a considerably amended text was adopted, recommending simply that wherever possible asylum seeker should not be detained.
MILITARY AND ARMED ATTACKS ON REFUGEE CAMPS
3.
All speakers condemned such attacks. Most WEOG speakers spoke of need to maintain exclusively civilian character of camps. Israel emphasised need to
combat terrorism when refugee camps contained armed elements. Vietnam took similar line. Front line states stated that no attack on refugee camps could be justified.
4.
No consensus on draft conclusions. EXCOM requested new Chairman and High Commissioner to continue consultations and to submit detailed reports to next regular Session in October 1987.
ASLYUM SEEKERS IN EUROPE
5.
Widespread recognition that freer travel had changed flows of asylum seekers. More people were arriving in Europe illegally or using forged documentation. WEOG countries pointed out that new procedures were required so as not to alienate public sympathy for genuine refugees. Countries of first asylum appealed to resettlement countries not to introduce more restrictive criteria.
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES
6.
General acknowledgement that LDCs with refugee populations