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<p>The UK has been clear, as has the UN Security Council, that Burma must create
the conditions in Rakhine to allow the Rohingya to return safely, voluntarily and
with dignity. We agree with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees that these conditions
do not yet exist. UN agencies also do not have the access they need to provide independent
monitoring of any returns. The UK was deeply concerned when Bangladesh and Burma announced
that the repatriation of refugees to Burma would begin in November 2018. We raised
our concerns at the highest levels with both Governments, stressing that returns should
not commence while conditions in northern Rakhine remain as they are. We welcome Bangladesh's
commitment to the principle of "voluntariness" and were pleased that repatriations
did not commence in November 2018. We will continue to make representations to the
Governments of both Bangladesh and Burma not to commence returns until suitable conditions
exist in northern Rakhine.</p>
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