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Recommendation 1207 (1993)
Population movements between the states of the former USSR
Referring to its Resolution 996 (1993) on population movements between the states of the former Soviet Union adopted on 4 February 1993, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers :
1. consider, as a matter of urgency, the growing migration, displaced person, refugee and repatriate crisis in Russia and the provision of humanitarian assistance in the areas of conflict ;
2. invite the Council of Europe's Social Development Fund to widen its scope to enable appropriate nongovernmental organisations in countries whose legislative assemblies enjoy special guest status to benefit from financing by the Fund, in co-ordination with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) ;
3. invite the governments of all the member states :
3.1. to join the IOM and to donate generously to its special projects in Russia and the other states which, de facto, were part of the former USSR and, as a matter of urgency, to encourage the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) :
a. to establish programmes of assistance in potentially volatile situations liable to produce refugees, displaced persons or repatriates ;
b. to increase emergency relief in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan ;
c. to put into place a presence to monitor the current situation of refugees and displaced persons in Tajikistan ;
d. to finance existing assistance and training programmes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
3.2. discuss with the Russian Government a firm timetable of withdrawal of Russian forces from those countries with which such agreements have not been made and to consider what assistance it would be appropriate to offer for the settlement of the returning officers and their families ;
3.3. to investigate the possibilities of launching co-operation with Russia to cover long-term repatriation programmes ;
3.4. to appeal to the governments of the areas of conflict concerned to enable those wishing voluntarily to repatriate and resettle elsewhere to be allowed to take their property and savings with them ;
3.5. to ensure that there is maximum co-ordination and co-operation between the international agencies and that their mandates complement rather than conflict, so as to avoid duplication of their work.