SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON KYRGYZSTAN Authorities TO FACILITATE

 

EVACUATION OF UZBEK REFUGEES

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General calls on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the evacuation of Uzbek refugees and asylum-seekers in the country.  His call comes amid reports that a number of these Uzbek nationals are being prevented from leaving a detention centre in the western Kyrgyz city of Osh.

The Secretary-General recalls, as have the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the High Commissioner for Refugees, that returning refugees or asylum-seekers to a country where they may face torture is a violation of international refugee and human rights law.  The Secretary-General also reminds the Kyrgyz authorities that this prohibition -- the principle of nonrefoulement -- is absolute and may not be derogated from or circumvented through any other undertaking, be that a bilateral treaty or any other arrangement.

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For information media • not an official record