| Date | 29 September 1998 |
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Agenda item 16
Elections to fill vacancies in subsidiary organs and other elections
(b) Election of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Note by the Secretary-General (A/53/389)
The President
By its decision 45/319 of 21 December 1990, the General Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, elected Mrs. Sadako Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a three-year term of office beginning on 1 January 1991.
By its decision 48/307 of 4 November 1993, the Assembly, on the proposal of the Secretary-General, extended the term of office of Mrs. Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a period of five years, beginning on 1 January 1994 and ending on 31 December 1998.
By its resolution 52/104 of 12 December 1997, the General Assembly decided to continue the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for a further period of five years from 1 January 1999.
In view of her distinguished contribution to the United Nations and her preference, for personal reasons, not to serve another full term, the Secretary-General proposes to the General Assembly that the term of office of Mrs. Sadako Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees be extended for a period of two years, beginning on 1 January 1999 and ending on 31 December 2000.
May I consider that the General Assembly approves the proposal contained in document A/53/389?
The President
On behalf of the Assembly, I should like to congratulate Mrs. Sadako Ogata of Japan on the extension of her appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for a period of two years, beginning on 1 January 1999 and ending on 31 December 2000.
Mr. Takasu (Japan)
On behalf of the delegation of Japan, I should like to welcome the decision just adopted by the General Assembly to extend the term of office of Mrs. Sadako Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for two years, through the end of December 2000.
I should like to take this opportunity to express the high appreciation of the Government of Japan to the High Commission for Refugees, Mrs. Ogata, for her leadership in the remarkable contribution that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been making in the assistance and protection of refugees all over the world and in the search for a durable solution to the refugee issue.
Mrs. Ogata has been the High Commissioner for Refugees since 1991. This has been an extraordinary period for UNHCR, with an unprecedented proliferation of regional and internal conflicts that have brought about a massive exodus of refugees and displaced persons from the areas of such conflicts. In this situation, the international community has had to take much more proactive and innovative approaches to meet the challenges posed by this new development. The success of humanitarian operations, particularly those carried out by UNHCR, in order to save the lives of tens of thousands of refugees and displaced persons, has become a matter of critical importance as a prerequisite for peace and stability. UNHCR, under the remarkable leadership of the High Commissioner, has met this enormous challenge with great dedication and with considerable success.
As UNHCR is expected to play a central role in humanitarian operations in this new situation, the challenges it faces are many. The Office of the High Commissioner has to redouble its efforts in order to meet these new challenges. Among them is the problem of how to ensure the safety of personnel engaged in humanitarian operations. It is also important to develop a comprehensive approach to enhance the sustainability of plans to effect the repatriation of refugees.
Another fundamental issue that we face in the United Nations system is how to link the stage of humanitarian rescue operations for refugees -- which is within the proper domain of the mandate of the UNHCR -- on the one hand, and the stage of post-conflict rehabilitation, which will include a phase of reintegrating returnees into society, on the other hand. Cooperation between UNHCR and other organs of the United Nations, as well as development agencies, such as the Bretton Woods institutions, is crucial in achieving satisfactory results in this regard.
At this critical moment in the evolution of UNHCR, the commitment, wisdom and experience of Mrs. Sadako Ogata are indispensable. Japan is indeed gratified that Mrs. Ogata will continue to be available for two years to exercise leadership at this critical juncture.
Mr. Sucharipa (Austria)
As this is the first time I have spoken at this session of the General Assembly, let me first of all reiterate the congratulations addressed to you, Mr. President, by the Austrian Foreign Minister, Mr. Schüssel, on your assumption of your high office.
On behalf of the European Union, it is my pleasure to congratulate Mrs. Sadako Ogata on the more than well-deserved extension of her appointment as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The European Union warmly welcomes her readiness to serve in this high office for another two years.
Since 1991, Mrs. Ogata has discharged her mission as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with diligence and dedication. She has won justified praise for her relentless efforts to alleviate the plight of millions of refugees, internally displaced persons or victims of war so that they can survive emergency situations, find safety and eventually return home.
The European Union will continue to fully support Mrs. Ogata in the fulfilment of her noble task. We thank her for her readiness to continue to serve the international community and refugees throughout the world.
Ms. King (United States)
We heartily congratulate Mrs. Ogata on her re-election as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As Mrs. Ogata always eloquently highlights, the erosion of commitment to the respect for humanitarian principles and the breaches of refugee protection have distressed us all. Protection is at the heart of the international community's responsibility towards refugees. It is the core of the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). However, UNHCR cannot provide protection alone. Governments must be responsible for protecting refugees on their territory, for ensuring their safety and for their non-refoulement to countries or territories where their lives or freedom will be threatened.
The United States condemns the continued killing and kidnapping of humanitarian personnel. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the many -- too many -- humanitarian workers who have been targeted by violence in recent years. These brutal acts are unacceptable and are again evidence of the disregard for basic humanitarian principles in many parts of the world. We are pleased, though, that the Security Council is conducting an open debate this morning to begin to find solutions to the vexing problem of the security of humanitarian workers and refugees.
Another key element is the necessity to ensure and protect the civilian character of refugee camps. Camps must be located away from borders, and military elements must be disarmed and separated from the general refugee population. The United States is deeply engaged in the work to establish an international mechanism to assist host Governments in maintaining the security and neutrality of refugee camps.
The United States remains concerned about the vulnerability of refugee women and refugee children. It is essential to keep women and children at the centre of protection and assistance policies and programming. While progress has been made, we would like to see the special protection and assistance needs of refugee women and refugee children mainstreamed into every policy and programme of the Organization and carried out in the field by every representative, protection officer and programme officer.
Finally, despite all the difficulties and setbacks, I would like to express my Government's appreciation to the High Commissioner and her staff for their constant attention to the fundamental principles of refugee protection -- principles we must all strive to implement and to safeguard.
Mr. Dausa Céspedes (Cuba)
The Group of Latin American and Caribbean States, which my country is honoured to coordinate during the month of September, recognizes Mrs. Sadako Ogata's distinguished contribution at the head of United Nations refugee activities during the last eight years. Our region is aware of the complexity of the tasks involved in the protection of refugees and in finding lasting solutions to refugee crises. We therefore appreciate highly the work being done around the world by the High Commissioner for Refugees.
The States of Latin America and the Caribbean urge the international community to continue to work with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the basis of firm adherence to the guiding principles established in its statute and in subsequent resolutions adopted by the General Assembly.
The Group of Latin American and Caribbean States would like to take this very significant opportunity to reaffirm its support for Mrs. Ogata as she continues her mandate as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. We wish her every success in her work.
Mr. Enkhsaikhan (Mongolia)
On behalf of the members of the Group of Asian States, permit me to congratulate Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the extension of her appointment for a further two-year period. It is broadly recognized that under her skilful guidance and dedication, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has contributed enormously to the protection of the interests of the world's refugees and other displaced persons and -- as Secretary-General Kofi Annan has underlined -- has alleviated the plight of millions of refugees and other displaced persons and has allowed them to exercise their basic rights to live safely, peacefully and without fear in their own homes.
Because of her rich experience -- including seven years as the head of UNHCR -- her dedication and her past performance, we have no doubt that Mrs. Ogata will make further efforts to alleviate the plight of the needy, as she has done in the past. We wish her success in this task and pledge our full cooperation.
In conclusion, permit me once again to extend to her our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes.
Ms. Wensley (Australia)
On behalf of the delegations of New Zealand and Canada and my own delegation, Australia's, I wish to welcome warmly the re-election of Mrs. Sadako Ogata as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Mrs. Ogata has demonstrated outstanding vision and leadership in guiding the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide important assistance and protection to millions worldwide, and also to bring home to those forced to flee their homes and seek refuge elsewhere.
Our delegations wish to congratulate Mrs. Ogata on her work, and we pledge our continued support for the High Commissioner's efforts.
Mr. Kayinamura (Rwanda)
I am pleased and honoured to have the opportunity to extend, on behalf of the African Group, our warm congratulations to Mrs. Sadako Ogata on the extension of her mandate as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. As the Assembly knows, Africa has been and continues to be a continent with a large number of refugees and internally displaced persons. Under her mandate over the past two years, Mrs. Ogata played a tremendous role in contributing to the alleviation of the suffering of refugees and in searching for a permanent solution to their plight. The international community as a whole has always paid tribute to the important role of her Office in dealing with current humanitarian issues. I add Africa's voice to the expression of that appreciation.
Under her able leadership, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner has provided protection and humanitarian assistance to people who have been forced to move internally or across international borders. It is our hope that by renewing Mrs. Ogata's mandate, we in the United Nations are committing ourselves to strongly supporting the work of her Office and to uniting our efforts in the search for a permanent solution to the refugee problem. We would like to commend her efforts to encourage the actions that led to the recent humanitarian victory in the Great Lakes region, when many Rwandan refugees returned home, thereby relieving the international community of that burden.
Mr. Botnaru (Moldova)
I should like, on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States, to congratulate Mrs. Sadako Ogata on her re-election as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Our regional group wishes to commend Mrs. Ogata for her dedication and commitment to defending and promoting the fundamental rights of refugees, as well as for the courage and devotion with which she has pursued her important humanitarian mandate. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the members of her staff; they deserve our full appreciation and support for their noble efforts, often performed under very difficult and hostile conditions, to help thousands of innocent victims deprived of their homes and countries.
The actions of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) demonstrate that humanitarian principles can be implemented only in cooperation with affected States. Our group welcomes the continued efforts of the High Commissioner to find, together with other international Organizations, solutions to the problems of refugees.
In conclusion, I would like to express once more our appreciation to Mrs. Ogata for her achievements during past years, for her personal dedication and for her outstanding leadership of one of the most effective United Nations agencies.
The President
This concludes our consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 16.
