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<p>The Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Field, raised our concerns about this
issue with Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam, and Burmese
Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin on 1 November, and with Bangladesh
Foreign Minister Ali on 15 November. We will continue to make representations to the
governments of both Bangladesh and Burma not to commence returns while conditions
in northern Rakhine remain as they are.</p><p>The British Government has been consistently
clear that the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Burma should only take place in
conditions that are voluntary, safe and dignified. We welcome that the Government
of Bangladesh has publicly confirmed its continued commitment to the principle of
voluntary refugee return. We have stated publicly that we agree with the UN Refugee
Agency (UNHCR) that the conditions for safe and dignified returns do not yet exist.
The access required for necessary independent monitoring by UN agencies is also not
in place.</p>
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