The High Commissioner for Refugees is about to launch the Paris Appeal to mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Convention on refugees. We reaffirm our commitment to this convention, which is a mark of international solidarity with refugees from armed conflicts.

We support the process begun in the European Union of harmonising the application of this fundamental text between Member States, and see this as the right way to preserve the legitimate rights of victims of conflict while avoiding the risk of fraud or manipulation by clandestine immigration networks which infringe human dignity.

We express our support for the High Commission for Refugees, directed since the beginning of this year by Mr Rudd Lubbers, and the work he has begun to reform the organisation to ensure protection and support for the millions of refugees in the world - protection which they need, and to which they have a right.