New Delhi: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres on Wednesday praised India's policy of protecting and assisting refugees in the country.
Guterres held the fourth round of open-ended bilateral consultations here with an Indian delegation led by Navtej Sarna, Additional Secretary (International Organisations), Ministry of External Affairs.
The discussions focused on current policies and activities of UNHCR in several regions of the world as well as on specific situations relating to South Asia.
The Indian delegation shared with the UN team the government's policies and practice in dealing with refugees in accordance with its own guidelines and legal framework.
Guterres also called on External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and Home Secretary RK Singh.
"During these meetings, the UN High Commissioner expressed his high appreciation for India's age-old tradition of tolerance and understanding which manifested itself in its current policy of protecting and assisting refugees," an MEA statement said.
India's strict adherence to the principle of non-refoulement and voluntary repatriation also came in for positive comment from the UN High Commissioner, it said.
The UN High Commissioner also appreciated India's gesture in extending long-term visas for refugees in addition to providing other facilities during their stay in the country.
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