Speech #900184214

FONG. and JAVITsall current or former members of the subcommitteejoined me in expressing this view. We are extremely pleased to note the committee on conference agreed to restore this amount. I want to commend the committee for recognizing the importance of maintaining a reasonable level of assistance to refugeesespecially at this time when the number of homeless is growing throughout the worldand for taking such positive action in a significant area of public concern. Mr. President. although the private voluntary agencies are frequently the channel through which we express our national humanitarian concern for refugees. the appropriation also includes our Governments contributions to the Intergovernmental Committee for European MigrationICEMand the United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUNHCR. Both these organizations deserve our strong and continued support. I want to stress. especially. the importance which I personally attach to the extremely vital contributions being made by the office of High Commissioner for Refugees in many areas of the world. I am disturbed that in recent years our contribution to the High Commissioner has dropped sharply. in spite of the fact that the need for his services is growing constantlyespecially in Africa. where the number of refugees has climbed to 800.000. The High Commissioners expanding responsibilities demand increasing support from members of the international community. Other governments have been raising their contribution for his needed humanitarian efforts. I strongly believe that our own Government. also. can and should do more to support the High Commissioners work. The action by the committee on conference is a step in the right direction. Refugee appropriation is at its lowest level in recent years. and drastic cuts at this time would have seriously undermined our position of leadership in refugee affairs.