The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20041210033129/http://www.un.int:80/usa/02_014.htm

nav-bar.gif (20604 bytes)

Image of the U.S. Eagle Ambassador Sichan Siv
United States Representative on the United Nations Economic and Social Council
Statement in the Security Council in Response to a Briefing by the
UN High Commissioner for Refugees
February 7, 2002

bar-2.gif (1046 bytes)

USUN PRESS RELEASE # 14 (02)
February 7, 2002

AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY

Statement by Ambassador Sichan Siv, United States Representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, in response to a briefing by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers, in the Security Council, February 7, 20002

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Mr. Lubbers for his informative briefing. We believe that it is important for the Council to keep abreast of refugee and humanitarian issues, which have a significant bearing on international peace and security in many parts of the world. We appreciate Mr. Lubbers sharing his views with us.

I would like to assure the High Commissioner of my government's support for refugee assistance and for UNHCR. As we enter the second half-century of the existence of both UNHCR and the Refugee Convention, it is important that we in the international community reaffirm our commitment to the protection and care of refugees and that we provide the support needed to do this to UNHCR.

For its part, the United States is a committed partner of UNHCR. Regrettably, UNHCR remains constantly under-funded and has been obliged to move to a resource-based budget. It is not acceptable to us that some refugees, particularly in Africa, are not receiving acceptable standards of care. It is not only UNHCR that is short-funded but also the World Food Program that is beset by inadequate donor support and breaks in the food pipeline. Refugees in some areas go for unacceptable periods of time without food supplies. The United States will continue to provide its fair share of funding.

Counter-Terrorism Measures and Security of Refugee Camps

We were interested to hear the High Commissioner's views on the impact of September 11 and counter-terrorism measures. While the United States has undertaken new measures to protect our national security, we cannot and will not permit the tragic events of September 11 to compromise our longstanding tradition of providing refuge to those in need. We must make sure, however, that terrorists are not allowed to take advantage of the refugee protection system. In our view, this can be prevented through scrupulous application of the exceptions to refugee protection available under current law. We stand ready to work with UNHCR to ensure that refugee status determination procedures and registration methods take into account the new security measures to combat terrorism.

In this vein, we again highlight that the security of refugee camps remains a key issue. We need to ensure that refugees are protected from attacks, from hostage-taking, from recruitment, and from sexual and gender-based violence. We also remain concerned about the security of humanitarian workers but welcome the steps taken to enhance coordination between UN agencies and UNSECOORD.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan today, it is our hope that the millions of refugees who fled, so many years ago, will eventually be able to return home voluntarily, in safety and dignity, when security conditions permit. It is important that, as part of the reconstruction effort, we focus on preparing for return. We look forward to learning more about UNHCR's assessments of return areas and preparations to ensure that assistance will be timely and adequate.

Western Sahara

We are pleased that DPKO has funded two UNHCR international positions for the Western Sahara operation. We also strongly support UNHCR's plans to build confidence between the two sides.

Africa

In Africa, we are still keenly concerned about the range of refugee situations. We welcome the prospects for voluntary return in safety and dignity but caution against premature and therefore destabilizing repatriation. We are pleased with the progress towards peace in Sierra Leone. While we continue to support efforts to facilitate the return of Sierra Leonean refugees who have expressed a firm desire to repatriate, we recognize that for many the time is not yet right for repatriation. We are also concerned about the ongoing instability in northern Liberia where tens of thousands of Liberians and several thousand Sierra Leonean refugees have been uprooted.

We encourage the High Commissioner's interest in looking at ways to address protracted refugee situations, to seek to make the most of refugees' resources and contributions, and to view them as assets rather than liabilities. We urge refugee-hosting countries to include refugees in their poverty reduction and development plans.

Refugee-hosting Countries

As a former refugee, I express particular appreciation to those countries that have provided refuge to the millions forced to flee, not only in South Asia but also in Africa, in Asia, and in South East Europe. Their generous hospitality and their contribution to the international effort are not adequately recognized.

###

home

top