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which they hoped would strengthen the legal protection of all its refugees. But durable solutions must accompany legal protection and burden-sharing was an important and universal concept in this regard. Italy also referred to the adverse effect large numbers of economic migrants passing themselves as refugees had on the sympathy and facilities available to mandate refguees. Finally Italy supported efforts aimed at prohibiting armed attacks on refugee camps.

27. The FRG approved of the text on accessions to the 1951 Convention and the 1961 Protocol. They hoped that the follow-up action on military attacks on refugee camps would succeed. The lengthy discussion of this subject in the Working Group had made it clear that consensus was required on this matter. On detention the FRG thought that we should accept for the time being the discussion that had taken place so far. There was no point in rushing the conclusions this session and there would be no harm in coming back to this matter later. The FRG agreed that it was necessary to maintain strict adherence to the existing refugee text, but they did not see any signs of entrenchment rather the problems all related to migration rather than the refugees.

28. Sudan stated that attacks on refugee camps were in violation of the Convention and a contravention of basic human rights. The situation in the Middle East and South Africa was alarming and serious. The international community could not ignore this matter; paper 680 failed to give due weight to these attacks. It was essential that consensus on this matter was reached.

29. Nicaragua thanked UNHCR for the paper on protection. They understood the difficulties posed by asylum seekers but called on states to comply with their obligations under the Convention and UN resolutions. They saw a need to extend the definition of refugees as foreseen in the Cartagena Declaration and the OAU Convention. They stressed the need to settle the armed attacks on refugee camps issue.

30. China concurred with the basic spirit of document 680. It was absolutely necessary for EXCOM to condemn and prohibit military attacks on refugee camps, to contain the agressors and to protect and support the victim countries of such attacks. They severely criticised Vietnam in this regard. They stated that EXCOM's actions must not give any hint of an excuse for such attacks. They therefore regretted the lack of consensus on principles/conclusions to prohibit such attacks and hoped that the report to the next session of EXCOM would result in a settlement on this issue.

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