REFUGEES MUST BE FREE TO DECIDE THEIR REPATRIATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 11, 1996 (VIS) - Archbishop Giuseppe Bertello spoke October 8 in Geneva at the 47th session of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), addressing the theme of the search for lasting solutions for refugees and the prevention of such situations.

Archbishop Bertello, apostolic nuncio and head of delegation to the UNHCR meeting, is the Holy See permanent observer to the Office of the United Nations and Specialized Institutions in Geneva. His speech focussed on the question of allowing refugees to freely make the decision regarding their repatriation.

He emphasized that, in order to prevent the "considerable" increase in displaced persons, it is necessary to look at the causes for this mobility, which he listed as political turmoil, civil wars due to ethnic and/or religious rivalries, "massive violations of human rights and those of minorities, an ever-growing arms market."

In the search for lasting solutions to the refugee problem, the nuncio said the Holy See wished to make "some considerations which it judges important," in particular regarding the "freely agreed upon repatriation" of refugees. "The non-negotiable basis in seeking this solution continues to be respect for the principle of voluntary choice, which goes hand in hand with protection of the refugee."

Archbishop Bertello stated the two "conditions necessary for making voluntary repatriation possible": "It is necessary to work above all so that the internal situation of a country - political, economic and social - which led to exile, changes. ... Secondly, it seems to my delegation that the international community should make firmer commitments for an efficacious control of the sale and transfer of arms." In this regard, he emphasized the "unfortunate consequences of anti-personnel landmines."
DELSS/REFUGEES/GENEVA:UNHCR:BERTELLO VIS 961011 (290)