| English.news.cn 2014-04-29 19:35:21 |
 
 
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PHNOM PENH, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has agreed "in principle"
to take a small number of legal asylum seekers from Australia, a senior
government official said Tuesday.
"In sum, the Cambodian government has agreed in principle and we're examining, considering and studying on the Australia's concept paper," Ouch Borith, secretary of state of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a response to questions raised by reporters.
He said this issue is in the stage of study and the government has set up a special committee to look into it.
"We will do this work in accordance to international standards and based on voluntary principle," he said, adding that the issue is a genuinely humanitarian task.
Visiting United Nations deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri said Tuesday that UN is ready to assist the two countries to ensure that the deal would go with international standards.
"Cambodia is well aware of its international commitment to human rights standards and I believe that it will abide by them," she told reporters after a meeting with Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. "If there is any need for cooperation, we (UN) stand ready to provide support to ensure that standards are met."
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop requested Cambodia to accept some of refugees from Australia during her visit to Cambodia in February, and early this month, Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison flew to Cambodia to further discuss the issue with Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
Under the offshore processing scheme, which Australia says is aimed at deterring people-smugglers, any asylum-seeker arriving by boat or intercepted at sea is transferred to detention centers in Manus island of Papua New Guinea or the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru for processing.
If their asylum claims were approved, they would only be allowed to settle outside Australia.
"In sum, the Cambodian government has agreed in principle and we're examining, considering and studying on the Australia's concept paper," Ouch Borith, secretary of state of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a response to questions raised by reporters.
He said this issue is in the stage of study and the government has set up a special committee to look into it.
"We will do this work in accordance to international standards and based on voluntary principle," he said, adding that the issue is a genuinely humanitarian task.
Visiting United Nations deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Flavia Pansieri said Tuesday that UN is ready to assist the two countries to ensure that the deal would go with international standards.
"Cambodia is well aware of its international commitment to human rights standards and I believe that it will abide by them," she told reporters after a meeting with Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. "If there is any need for cooperation, we (UN) stand ready to provide support to ensure that standards are met."
Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop requested Cambodia to accept some of refugees from Australia during her visit to Cambodia in February, and early this month, Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison flew to Cambodia to further discuss the issue with Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng.
Under the offshore processing scheme, which Australia says is aimed at deterring people-smugglers, any asylum-seeker arriving by boat or intercepted at sea is transferred to detention centers in Manus island of Papua New Guinea or the tiny Pacific nation of Nauru for processing.
If their asylum claims were approved, they would only be allowed to settle outside Australia.
Editor:
Luan
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