6
report, opened an account for the receipt of funds. The French delegation opposed the opening of an account at this stage, but as they were not supported, the Chairman with some reluctance recognised that the majority were in favour of it.
Conclusions
8. Each year the Executive Committee edges closer to the political arena. It was inevitable this year, with nine new members, a vastly increased budget and the political implications of the Indo-Chinese refugee situation, that discussion took on a much more political flavour. However, with the decision to ask other fora to examine the root causes" of refugee situations the Executive Committee maintained the primacy of humanitarian over political factors. But even more important the UNHCR Secretariat kept in its hands the responsibility and initiative for preparing and putting to the Committee draft decisions which, with a few minor amendments, could all be adopted by consensus. The High Commissioner was also saved from the deadening effect of UN style advisory committees on finance, administration, etc., thereby preserving his flexibility and operational efficiency.
There is, however, good reason given the magnitude of an ever-increasing budget for donor as well as recipient governments to take a much greater interest in these matters, and the High Commissioner has promised to keep them so informed. Our task should be to encourage good and cost effective management in UNHCR by demonstrating our concern and interest, and yet protect the Organisation from the un- necessary burden of new bureaucratic structures. The annual session of the High Commissioner's Executive Programme and its Sub-Committee on Protection will be of increasing interest to governments and if the Office is to get on with its proper humanitarian task, it is essential to keep the Executive Committee short (six working days) and businesslike and to stop it straying down non-humanitarian avenues. The Committee has had to accept the ritual Greece/Turkey/Cyprus and Morocco/Algeria clashes, but it would be a pity if its time were wasted on other bilateral disputes.
The Sub-Committee on Protection met for two days this year, as opposed to one, and its deliberations on the seered principles of asylum and non-refoulement and the development of the concept of temporary refuge in answer to the influx faced by the countries of first asylum in South East Asia have growing international and political significance. A separate report on this item.is being prepared by the,.. Home Office.
The presence of a Minister at the head of the UK delegation demonstrated the increased importance we attach to UNHCR and was well received. We have some technical differences with UNHCR on our pro- cedure for admitting refugees, the rate of inflow of those on our South East Asia quota and our unwillingness to give blanket guarantees to accept all rescued on UK ships. But these were dealt with in private discussions. In public we emerged in a good light vis à vis UNHCR and other delegations, whilst, at the same time, fully protecting our interests.
RESTRICTED
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.