Top UN official surveys Tajikistan's treatment of refugees, asylum seekers
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 1 April 2008 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Top UN official surveys Tajikistan's treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, 1 April 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4805b6d05.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres is currently in Tajikistan, where he has been holding talks with the Central Asian country's leaders on issues relating to the integration of Afghan refugees as well as asylum policies.
Mr. Guterres began his three-day visit yesterday by meeting with President Emomali Rahmon, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Interior.
"He had fruitful discussions on the integration of some 1,000 Afghans who have been refugees in Tajikistan for up to 20 years, as well as on the improvement of the national asylum systems in the country," said UNHCR spokesperson Jennifer Pagonis.
Tajikistan is host to some 1,700 refugees and asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan.
Today, the UN refugee chief will be visiting projects outside Dushanbe. He then returns to the capital tomorrow to attend the opening of vocational training projects at a refugee training centre.
In 1993 Tajikistan became the first country in Central Asia to accede to both the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, and it was also the first country in the region to adopt national legislation on refugees.
