The partnership of the governments of Albania, F.Y.R.O.M., Turkey that offered asylum with those that provided humanitarian assistance and evacuation was critical to the protection of refugees. And the partnership between the humanitarian and military communities during the repatriation has been and remains crucial to the maintenance of a durable peace. Truly, the Kosovo crisis demonstrated the durability of the refugee regime and proved that international partnership can work flexibly and quickly to protect refugees. Although it was not without tensions and challenges, collectively we have learned many lessons to strengthen our ability to respond even better in the future. Threats to refugee protection come in many forms, and from many kinds of perpetrators.
Some threats are to individuals, as in sexual violence.
Other threats affect a whole community, such as military attacks on, or presence in, refugee camps. In the past few years, we have seen major accomplishments in the area of response to sexual violence. However, we must also protect refugees from exposure to such violence. The United Nations Security Council has put a spotlight on their importance of security in the protection of refugees. Security Council Resolution 1208 is potentially an important tool for dealing with the problems of refugee security.