Speech #860078710

Mr. President. on July 1 we will begin our observance of World Refugee Year. In doing so we will partially fulfill the obligation we incurred in cosponsoring with eight other nations in the United Nations a resolution calling for this observance. We are also obliged to achieve. as best we can. the goals of World Refugee Year. These are: First. to focus attention on the many refugee problems. second. to encourage additional financial contributions from governments. voluntary agencies. and the general public. and. third. to encourage additional opportunities for permanent solutions to refugee problems through voluntary repatriation. resettlement or integration. Heretofore. I have called the attention of my colleagues to the refugee problem which begs for a solution and to activities in connection with the United States participation in World Refugee Year. Therefore. I am happy to recommend at this time an excellent article entitled "The World Refugee Year." written by Dr. Francis B. Sayre. Jr.. dean of the Washington Cathedral. and published in the June 10 issue of the Christian Century. an undenominational weekly publication. Dr. Sayre is well informed and qualified to speak on the subject of refugees. His experiences as a world traveler. as chairman of the U.S. Committee for Refugees. and as a cleric constitute a vast reservoir of information on this perplexing problem well worth our tapping. In his account of the history. background. and aims of World Refugee Year. Dr. Sayre observes that "the first and primary fact concerning the refugee problem therefore is that it is a worldwide problem. and that it is not merely humanitarian in nature but often involves and underlies all other major problems of international life." This is the challenge we inevitably face. I certainly join Dr. Sayre in the hope that the solidarity between peoples and nations can soon be cemented. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent to have the article on World Refugee Year. by Dr. Sayre. printed at this point in the RECORD.