REFUGEE SITUATION IN NEPAL: CANADA SHARES CONCERN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 000418

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV PHUM BT NP CA
SUBJECT: REFUGEE SITUATION IN NEPAL: CANADA SHARES CONCERN

REF: STATE 36386


1. (SBU) We presented reftel demarche February 10 to Elissa
Golberg, Policy Advisor for Humanitarian Affairs in DFAIT's
Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs and International Women's
Equality Division. She stated that Canada shares our concern
over the lack of progress in solving the refugee situation in
eastern Nepal. Ms. Golberg said Canada's ambassador at its
U.N. mission in Geneva will be meeting soon with the
Bhutanese ambassador, and in that meeting he will stress the
same points set out in our demarche.


2. (SBU) Ms. Golberg indicated that some Bhutanese refugees
have been resettled in Canada, under the private sponsorship
of Canadian NGOs and local community groups. She said the
GOC has not yet considered new offers of resettlement to
others, nor has it discussed providing financial assistance
for those refugees who return to Bhutan.

CELLUCCI