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Distinguished Co-facilitators,
Given the urgency and the criticality of the issue at hand, we believe the outcome document should be focused, crisp and comprehensive. It should address all the problems faced by refugees, both in acute and in protracted situations, while responding urgently and effectively to the pressing challenges at hand.
My delegation would first of all acknowledge the good work in identifying the relevant issues in the elements paper. We support most of its points. However, with a view to making the document more comprehensive and problem-focused, we would like to suggest a few new areas for incorporation in the draft. At the same time, we also urge prioritizing the listing order of some of the areas, in keeping with their priority and urgency.
First,and foremost, it has to be borne in mind that refugees and migrants are dealt with under separate laws and conventions. Conflating the two could create confusion and dilute focus on the drivers and dynamics of the current refugee crisis.
Two,the Summit should clearly reaffirm the principle of equal treatment of refugees and migrants and reject discrimination on any basis or consideration.
Three,the Summit should make an unequivocal pronouncement against all forms of xenophobia, especially when directed against those desperately seeking protection and asylum. The Summit must make it clear that any public rhetoric against refugees is against the principles laid down in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Four,it is imperative for the Summit to address the most pressing humanitarian issue of recurring tragedies in the Mediterranean as a matter of utmost priority. The shockingly high number of 'fatalities in transit' has been the most chilling aspect of the current refugee crisis. Thousands of desperate asylum seekers, including men and women of all ages, some too young to even know what is happening, have become innocent victims of tragic ship-wrecks in the Mediterranean Sea. We believe the summit must address this issue with the seriousness that it deserves, otherwise we would have failed in our duty.
Five,while focusing global attention on the current refugee crisis, the Summit must not ignore protracted and neglected refugee situations around the world. My country, Mr. Chairman, has been host to nearly three million refugees for close to four decades now. The international community has failed to find a lasting solution to this problem and support for their assistance and repatriation has also dried up with the passage of time. This has not only increased economic burden on my country but also created complex social and political problems. The fact that nearly 2% of the refugees currently flowing to Europe are Afghan refugees underscores the need to finding a lasting solutions to protracted refugee situations. We hope the outcome document will focus equal attention on protracted refugee situations, while calling for enhanced assistance for the host governments and communities and greater international support for early and sustainable repatriation of refugees in protracted situations.
lastly,on the issue of global burden sharing, we of course recognize that the current crisis is beyond the capacity of any one country. We support the principle of regional and global burden sharing. However, it has to be borne in mind that global burden sharing has to be in accordance with the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibility and must also take into account other relevant factors such as ‘geographical proximity’.
I thank you,