ARMED ELEMENTS MUST BE REMOVED FROM REFUGEE CAMPS, REPRESENTATIVE OF RWANDA TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S THIRD COMMITTEE CORRECTION

Press Release
GA/SHC/3436/

ARMED ELEMENTS MUST BE REMOVED FROM REFUGEE CAMPS, REPRESENTATIVE OF RWANDA TELLS GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S THIRD COMMITTEE CORRECTION

In page 4 of Press Release GA/SHC/3436 of 4 November, the last sentence in the summary of the statement by YAMINA BENNANI AKHAMLICH (Morocco) should be deleted, and the following should be added:

"At the instigation of the Secretary-General, and with assistance from former United States Secretary of State James Baker, Morocco had undertaken private, technical contacts that would help break the settlement plan deadlock that had lasted more than two years. Mr. Baker had succeeded in giving new momentum to the settlement plan, whose rules would not then be challenged. That, at least, was what Morocco strongly hoped.

"She said the refugee problem -- one of the plan's components -- required the attention of the UNHCR, which had indicated its commitment to reviewing and updating the plans developed in 1991 that would pave the way for the freely consented repatriation of refugees. Implementing one of the UNHCR's basic principles would help end the ordeal endured by thousands of refugees held in the Hamada camps for nearly a quarter century. The UNHCR had done an outstanding job in that regard.

"She said Morocco had done everything it could to bring the refugees the security, comfort and well-being they have been deprived of for over 20 years. It was committed once more to giving the UNHCR its unstinting support in the accomplishment of its noble mission."

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