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Roundup: Ban Ki-moon appeals for "global compact" in tackling refugee crisis

Xinhua, December 9, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon emphasized in Helsinki on Wednesday that international cooperation is needed to ease the refugee situation.

Addressing the celebration of 60th anniversary of Finnish membership in the United Nations, Ban said a world-wide contract should be signed to shoulder the responsibilities.

"We need to do Global Compact on responsibility sharing, we need to save lives, and we need to provide humanitarian support," said the Secretary-General.

Ban said currently more than 60 million refugees in the world have left their homes due to violence, warfare, conflicts and poverty, stressing that the refugee problem is a global phenomenon and international cooperation is needed to resolve the problem.

He called for open debates on the refugee issue, in order to avoid polarization, divergence and violence.

Ban pointed out that it is important to ensure the human rights of refugees and immigrants. "We must not discriminate against people. We should not hate anyone on the basis of nationality or ethnicity," he said.

Ban thanked Finland for enacting same-sex marriage, but reminded his hosts about the rights of the Sami minority.

Finland was admitted into the UN in December 1955. Finland had filed an application in 1947 but the admission was delayed.

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto reminded that Finland got actual aid from the UN in the immediate post war years, such as shoes for children.

One year after joining the UN, Finland took part in its first UN peace keeping mission in Suez, the Middle East, in 1956.

Finnish Foreign Minister Timo Soini announced on Wednesday that Finland would aim at being elected into the UN Human Rights Council for the period 2022-24. Finland was a member in the 47-nation council in 2006-2007.

At a joint press conference, Ban Ki-moon and Niinisto were asked about the fight against terrorism. Both Ban and Niinisto underlined the importance of a broad front to combat terrorism. Soini earlier made it clear that no Finnish soldiers would be sent to actual combat.

Regarding the ongoing Climate Change Conference in Paris, Ban Ki-Moon, who just left the summit on a two-day visit to Finland, said that the negotiations made tangible progress. However, he said more efforts need to be done.

"We cannot negotiate with the nature. We have to live in harmony with it," he said. He hoped that the conference could be a decisive turning point to reverse the climate change. Endit