Mr.
Chairman,
Let me at the outset thank Mr.
Antonio Guterres, the High Commissioner for Refugees for his comprehensive
report and for his introductory remarks. I wish to express Hungary’s high
appreciation for his efforts to meet the humanitarian challenges over the last
year. We are gravely concerned by the increasing number of persistent crisis situations which forced more
than 11 million refugees and 26 million IDPs worldwide to leave their homes. We commend the
actions undertaken by UNHCR to avert or mitigate the dire consequences of armed
conflicts and natural disasters throughout the world. I wish to pay a special
tribute to UNHCR’s role in tackling the problem of IDPs and
mixed migration, and in ensuring that the number of voluntary return programs and
programs of reintegration is growing. The organization also continued successfully to
carry out its mandate to protect the rights of those seeking asylum because of
political and other forms of unlawful prosecution.
From a regional perspective we attach special
importance to UNHCR’s 10 point plan of action regarding the Eastern and South
Eastern borders of the EU. The very important issues addressed in this plan of
action will in the long run also have an impact on other states, mainly the
countries of origin. Hungary
is committed to creating a Common European Immigration Policy, and welcomes the
adoption of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum by the European Council
on the October
16th, 2008.
The alarming trends of refugee
flows call for a strengthened and more effectively functioning UNHCR. We therefore strongly support the
ongoing organizational reform of the agency which has already brought about
visible results and contributed to enhanced efficiency and flexibility. An
important aspect of this work is the process of outposting certain
administrative functions. We fully endorse the program of the High Commissioner
aimed at rationalizing his Office and cutting administrative costs so that concrete
programs and projects affecting refugees can be better supported and financed.
May I use
this opportunity to confirm my Government’s commitment to further supporting
the activities of the UNHCR both at global and regional levels.
As a tantamount of this I would like to refer to the EUR 130.000 offered by Hungary
as an un-earmarked core contribution to the work of the organization. The UNHCR office in Budapest serving as Central
European Regional Representation from 2005, carries
out a very important and effective cooperation with the Hungarian government.
We highly appreciated the agency’s points of view and its suggestions during
the elaboration of the new Hungarian refugee law. UNHCR also played a pivotal
role in launching resettlement programs, a new field of activity for the
competent Hungarian authorities.
We believe that it is our common success that Budapest has been chosen
to host the new Global Service Centre of UNHCR. We hope that the further plans
regarding the enlargement of the Center by outposting new units will soon be implemented.
We believe that the decisions of the High Commissioner in this regard will be beneficial
for both parties and the new functions will soon be operational. Even over a
relatively short period of time the outposting of certain offices to Budapest
has already resulted in significant savings and increasing the funds directly
available to render assistance for those millions in need.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
