23.
agency but rather act as a catalyst for refugee development.
Israel welcomed the consensus on the need to help refugees help themselves. They reiterated their suggestion of close cooperation with ICM as they had long experience in repatriation and reintegration of refugees and migrants into their countries of origin.
24.
The Philippines commended UNHCR and ICM for their assistance and resettlement programmes to Indo-Chinese refugees. However the international community must re-examine mass movements and tackle their root causes. In addition a solution must be found to the problem of detention of refugees and life in refugee camps. In particular countries of first asylum were finding it difficult to cope and could not give a open ended commitment - repatriation of refugees must therefore be pursued and the countries of origin must be encouraged to pursue policies which would create viable economic and political conditions for repatriation.
25.
should be
Morocco agreed that voluntary repatriation the main goal. Morocco would cooperate in the voluntary repatriation, under the auspices of UNHCR, of Sahrawi refugees These refugees would be welcomed home.
26.
Costa Rica referred to the return to democracy in Central America. However Costa Rica suffered as a direct consequence of the violation of human rights in Nicaragua. There were 2 1/1 million refugees in Costa Rica, 70% of whom came from Nicaragua Given Costa Rica's limited economic resources they requested greater international assistance.
27.
Italy referred to the need for regional development schemes, noted the work of ICRC and ICM in helping refugees, noted the need for more contingency plans and stated that their contribution to UNHCR was well over 20 million dollars so far this vear.
28.
There followed a long, tedious and unproductive exchange of rights of reply between Nicaragua and Costa Rica until lunch
29. UNDP encouraged funding of refugee aid and development projects. They would continue in emergency preparedness and to cooperate with UNHCR in programme implementation workshops. They noted the UNDP/UNDRO workshop on disaster relief at which UNHCR, ICRC and ICM were also present. UNDP had an indicative planning period of 5 years which set a broad 5 year development aid programme.
This was submitted to the UNDP Governing Council for approval. UNDP's role was to keep governments aware of their development needs, including refugee development needs, but it was the right of governments and their perogative to make the final decision on the form of their development programmes. The European Commission made a short speech supporting UNHCR's activities and stating what the EC did to support refugees.
/30.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.