Iran’s Interior minister has called for a global contribution to the safe repatriation of the refugees and migrants hosted by the Islamic Republic for many years.
Abdolreza Rahmani-Fazli made the remakes in an address to the UN General Assembly’s first-ever summit for Refugees and Migrants on Monday.
He said the Islamic Republic has been hosting a huge population of refugees for many years, a move that has put Iran “among the lead countries in the history of humanitarian assistance.”
The minister was referring to a massive influx of refugees from the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and Iraq.
“This has been remarkably achieved on the basis of our religious teachings and humanitarian principles,” said Rahmani-Fazli, adding that Iran-based refugees now enjoy job opportunities, as well as education and health services “above many international standards.”
Rahmani-Fazli emphasized that the refugee crisis, which he explained as of a global nature, requires a global investment.
“The international community as well as the developed countries should take full responsibility vis-a-vis this issue,” he stressed.
He said the Islamic Republic has shouldered “much of this responsibility” and that an “immediate action at the global level” is required to tackle the crisis.
“This is yet a common undertaking and a shared responsibility, the fulfillment of which contributes tremendously to regional and international peace and development. Let us join hands to achieve this noble human objective,” he concluded.
The Iranian minister was attending the summit on the refugee crisis, along with 193 member states, where the delegations adopted the New York Declaration aimed at addressing the crisis and preparing the world for future challenges.
The declaration calls for the start of negotiations on an international conference, which could adopt a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in 2018.
A follow-up summit is also scheduled to be held on Tuesday at the request of US President Barack Obama, with at least 45 world leaders expected to be in attendance.
