FED: Albanians say Aust refugee numbers too small

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-1999
FED: Albanians say Aust refugee numbers too small

The Albanian community in Australia has criticised the federal government's announcement it
will accept 4,000 temporary refugees from Kosovo.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says Australia should play its role in the international effort
to relieve the burden on neighbouring states by providing a safe haven.

But an Albanian community representative in Australia says the announcement falls well
short of what the country should offer.

Albanian community spokesman SADIK BINAKAJ says countries like Turkey and Germany have
offered to take 130,000 Kosovar refugees and Australia's offer of 4,000 is not enough.

Mr BINAKAJ says there are about 15,000 ethnic Albanians in Australia -- and each family
would be happy to take one or two families.

AAP RTV dep/sb/nd/jn/lw/am

KEYWORD: KOSOVO HOWARD REACT (SYDNEY)

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