Mr. President. one of the results of the refugee crisis in the Persian Gulfperhaps the only silver lining to an otherwise enormous tragedywas the broad humanitarian mandate granted to the United Nations in Iraq. It is a mandate which permits United Nations Humanitarian assistance and personnel to operate even without Iraqi Government cooperation. These actions. authorized by two Security Council resolutions and in a memorandum of understanding with the Iraqi Government. could represent a significant advancement in international humanitarian law if they can be asserted in other situations and become an accepted principle of international law and practice. In a thoughtful essay in the Washington Post. the Executive Delegate of the Secretary General. Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. who is primarily in charge of the U.N. operation. reviews this new development in international humanitarian assistance. I believe there are some extraordinarily important lessons to be drawn from the international communitys recent experience in the Persian Gulf. especially with the Kurdish refugees. and Prince Sadruddin articulates them. very well. Mr. President.
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refugee refugees