Temer: Sheltering refugees a shared responsibility

President Michel Temer stated that “sheltering refugees is a shared responsibility,” and argued for a negotiated answer to political crises as a means to prevent forced movements. The statement was made today (Sep. 19) during a plenary session of the high-level meeting on large movements of refugees and migrants at headquarters of the United Nations (UN), in New York.

“We must not turn a blind eye to the deep causes of such phenomena. Only the negotiated solution of political crises and  development for all can prevent forced movements. Let's be clear: the flow of refugees comes as a result of war, repression, and violent extremism. They're not their own origin,” said the Brazilian head of state.

Temer noted that Brazil is a country formed by immigrants from every continent. “Immigrants have made, and still make, a significant contribution to our development. We are fully aware that sheltering refugees is a shared responsibility. We're engaged in refugee resettling initiatives in our region, with special attention paid to women and children,” he remarked.

At the end of the session, a political decision is expected to be approved which should mark the beginning of talks on refugees which may last up to 2018, when two global pacts will be implemented: On Responsibility-Sharing for Refugees, and Safe, Regular, and Orderly Migrations.

Further bilateral meetings are set to be held today between Temer and Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Uruguay's Tabaré Vázquez.

Assembly

Tomorrow (20), Temer is expected to open the 71st UN General Assembly, in observance of a tradition initiated in 1947 with Brazilian Osvaldo Aranha's inauguration address. Aranha was the head of the Brazilian delegation in the UN at the time.

This is Temer's second official trip overseas after permanently taking office. Early in the month, he took part in a summit meeting of the G20, a bloc with the world's top 20 economies, in China.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira