"We are grateful to Turkey"

Ms. Carol Batchelor, UNHCR Turkey Representative, speaking to Al Jazeera, has thanked Turkey for its
solid stance vis-a-vis Syrian asylum seekers and reminded that "this is an international responsibility".

There are more than 51 million people forced to flee worldwide. Since World War II, this is the largest
number recorded. The report released by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees calls for a
political solution, reminding that refugee issue is an international responsibility. There are critics levelled
at Western counties, while Ms. Carol Batchelor UNHCR Turkey Representative places Turkey in a different
pot. Ms. Batchelor responded to Al Jazeera's questions.

Does United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees have any plans regarding Mosul?

We have been working in Iraq for long years now. We have offices in the region. There are around
500,000 thousand people forced to flee. We are working closely with the civil society and other
authorities in the country. Turkey is providing assistance as well. For now, the most urgent need is shelter.
Therefore, tent and similar materials are being dispatched to the region.

Will there be a call for the Western countries to host refugees or for convening a pledging conference?

These take time. However, UN is constantly engaged in talks with the countries regarding these issues.
There are currently on-going talks as well.

Shiite Muslims living in Sunni regions face ISID threat. Is there any specific measure taken on this issue?

We have measures for every person regardless of their religion, ethnicity, race, language and sex. Any one
whose life is at risk, including those based on discrimination, and who seeks a safe region falls under
international responsibility. This responsibility not only belongs to Turkey, Lebanon or UNHCR.

Members of the organizations listed in the UN terrorist organizations list sometimes infiltrate in the
refugee camps supported by the UN. Have you taken any measures regarding this?

Humanitarian assistance and refugee status is only granted to civilians. While setting up camps, we
register everyone, conduct interviews and understand who they are. Looking into the example of Turkey,
all the camps in Turkey are managed by Turkey. Therefore, measures regarding these issues should be
taken by the government and there are already various measures Turkey has taken to this end.

In the report, it is emphasized that majority of the asylum seekers and refugees worldwide are hosted by
developing countries, not by Western countries. It seems as if the West turns a deaf ear when
humanitarian assistance and refugee issues are in question. How can this change?

As I previously stated, responding to the needs of refugees requires international responsibility. This has
nothing to do with the borders or where the refugees have taken asylum. Indeed, figures of humanitarian
aid provided by the countries have increased, but needs have maybe tripled or quadrupled. However,
this is assistance provided in emergencies. Political solution should be found for stability and peace.

We conclude, from your remarks, that humanitarian assistance provided so far and the calls made in
this direction have not proven sufficient. Then, do you think the UN needs a structural transformation?

We leave this up to the states. States makes up the United Nations. This is not an issue we can comment
on, we only make calls to those who are responsible.

Turkey is one of the countries hosting largest number of refugees. Besir Atalay, Deputy Prime Minister
of Turkey, has stated on Thursday (19 June 2014) that the number of refugees had exceeded one
million. Only 200,000 of these live in camps. How do you view Turkey's policies vis-a-vis Syrian asylum
seekers?

Turkey has declared "temporary protection status" for these asylum seekers. This is an internationally
recognized legal status. This means the following: a great number of people have arrived and these
people are in need of protection. Turkey was the first country to declare this status. Turkey has stated
that it will accept Syrians, protection them and will not force anyone to return and it has been acting in
coherence with its remarks for the last 3 years. Therefore, we are very grateful to Turkey and Turkish
people. This is very difficult work. Only 20 % of the Syrians are in camps as it is also extremely difficult to
set up these camps. A few weeks ago, I was in a camp in Midyat province. Women over there were
grateful. They were very glad for the support provided in health, education, security and nutrition sector.
However, their physiological situation is deteriorating day by day. Turkey has demonstrated a very strong
and protection-oriented sustainable stance in this crisis. We will continue to work closely with Turkey on
this issue.

Turkey still keeps its geographical constraints vis-a-vis refugees. Is there new developments regarding
this?

Geographical constraint: Turkey became a party to the Geneva Convention concluded in 1951 on the condition of "geographic
constraint". Pursuant to this condition, Ankara only recognizes people from Europe seeking asylum in Turkey under certain
conditions as "refugee". This status is not granted to asylum seekers coming from Middle East and Africa.

There are very positive developments. Turkey adopted a new law on refugees in April, last year. It passed
this law while the Syrian crisis was unfolding next door. Under this law, Turkish people can see who
arrives in Turkey, why they have come and what their situation is in Turkey. This is overseen and
regulations are being introduced. Those people arriving as asylum seekers and refugees know their status,
rights and responsibilities. "Geographical constraints" still exist in law; however Turkey has expressed via
this law that Turkey can manage the situation of the refugees in their best, be it a refugee is European or
not. Turkey presented an example of this with Syrian asylum seekers. Syrians are not Europeans. UNHCR,
normally, is supposed to register Syrian asylum seekers in co-operation with Turkey and procedures
should be conducted; but Turkey stated as follows: "We will register them, assess their legal status and
we will declare a temporary protection policy." This is of course an ideal situation as well. UNHCR makes a
call in this direction to all countries.

(This is an unofficial translation of the original news article.)