Speech #880107909

I refer. Mr. President. to the vital work of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This Government has played an important role by contributing funds and other resources to aid the efforts of the High Commissioner. I think it timely and useful that we be reminded of the accomplishments of this refugee program. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUNHCRwas established in 1951 by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to provide international protection for refugees. Most of these refugees were Europeans. The High Commissioner strived to find permanent solutions to longstanding refugee problems by assisting governments and private organizations to repatriate refugees voluntarily. or assimilate them within new national communities. Later. the General Assembly authorized the High Commissioner to provide material assistance to refugees to help them reestablish themselves. and in a series of resolutions starting in 1957. the General Assembly authorized the High Commissioner to exercise his good offices in assisting governments to resolve refugee problems on their territories which are not the concern of the United Nations. The High Commissioner has thus not only discharged his responsibilities for securing the legal and political protection of refugees and carrying out his own assistance programs: he has also influenced and coordinated the work of other international organizationsboth governmental and privateprivate voluntary agencies and governments of countries offering asylum to refugees. That is. he has not only served effectively as a prime mover in promoting the solution of refugee problems. but also as a catalytic agent to stimulate maximum contributions and effort on the part of the international community. The leadership role of the UNHCR during World Refugee Year195960when the value of international contributions in behalf of refugees exceeded $92 million. is a notable example. The UNHCR carries out his functions in Europe. the Near East. Africa. the Far East. and the Western Hemisphere. and maintains offices in most of the countries within which ref ugees reside.