GENEVA Reuter: Officials from Western Europe Canada and Australia have agreed that a concerted international approach is needed to deal with an influx of Iranians and Sri Lankans seeking asylum United Nations officials said.
A spokesman for the U.N. High Commissioner for refugees (UNCHR) said this was the conclusion of three days of talks here the latest in a series called to discuss pressing refugee questions
According to official estimates some 100000 Iranians have sought asylum in Western Europe North America and Australia since 1980 following the Islamic revolution in their country.
Delegation sources said 13000 Iranians sought asylum in west Europe in 1984 and 23000 other last year.
They said some 50000 Tamils from Sri Lankan were currently in Western Europe.
The sources said further consultations were needed for working out some way of sharing the burden.
Countries represented in the talks included West Germany where a flood of refugees much of it via east Berlin has brought protests from authorities alarmed that they are losing control over arrivals.
Other European governments taking part were Australia Britain Denmark France the Netherlands Norway Sweden and Switzerland.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 5, 1986
