Poland vetoes UN refugee resolution

2019-12-18 20:34 update: 2019-12-19, 20:01
he flag in front of United Nations headquarters flies at half mast. Photo PAP/  EPA/JUSTIN LANE
he flag in front of United Nations headquarters flies at half mast. Photo PAP/ EPA/JUSTIN LANE
Poland on Wednesday voted against a resolution on the adoption of the UN's Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) at the 74th UN General Assembly session in New York. Poland already voted down the GCR pact at the General Assembly's December 18, 2018 sitting.

According to the Polish side the document could be used to exert pressure on countries in refugee resettlement issues, also its very general tone left openings for illegal migration, the misuse of the EU members' asylum systems and refugee smuggling.

In Poland's opinion the best remedy for the migration problem was to deepen cooperation with refugee-producing countries and the countries refugees transited on their way to Europe. Poland also strongly supports placing migration and asylum policy under the EU countries' own jurisdiction.

Representing Poland at the 74th General Assembly session was Deputy Interior Minister Krzysztof Kozlowski. (PAP)
mb/mf/