China Calls for Cooperation Between UNHCR and GovtsChina on Tuesday called for more cooperation between the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and governments."Strengthening cooperation with governments deserves special attention," Chinese Ambassador Qiao Zonghuai said at the ongoing meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee here. Under the UNHCR statute, Qiao said, U.N. should assist in resolving the refugee problem under the approval of the countries concerned. Since their governments bear the primary responsibility for the protection of refugees, the UNHCR ought to pay special attention to strengthening its cooperation with them. Qiao said the UNHCR's work "should be entirely non-political and humanitarian in nature, and should relate to refugee groups or refugee categories." The UNHCR should adhere to its mandate which is provided by its authorization from the U.N. General Assembly, Qiao said. Citing an old Chinese proverb, which says: "One learns the mandate of heaven at 50," Qiao hoped the UNHCR, founded 50 years ago, will have a clearer perception of its responsibilities and mandate. On behalf of the Chinese delegation, he thanked Sadako Ogata, head of the UNHCR, who will retire this year, for what she has done in the past decade. "In the past 10 years, the Chinese government has maintained good cooperative relations with the UNHCR," Qiao said. "We would like to join other governments to express our respect and acclamation for Sadako Ogata, as the completion of her tenure of office draws near." |
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