Mr. President, we heartily congratulate Mrs. Ogata on her re-election as UN 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.
Governments must be responsible for protecting refugees on their territory, for ensuring their safety and their non-refoulement to countries or territories where their lives or freedom would be threatened. Mr. President, the United States condemns the continued killing and kidnapping of humanitarian personnel. 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 this morning is conducting an Open Debate 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.