Raad van Europa condoleert nabestaanden Schipholbrand (en)

Faro, 27.10.2005 - Terry Davis today expressed his sadness at the loss of human lives as a result of the fire in the detention centre at Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands. "It is too early to make any comments on the tragic incident itself, but I am confident that the Dutch authorities will make a thorough and transparent investigation into the causes of the fire and the circumstances in which at least 11 persons awaiting deportation have lost their lives", he said.

"In the recent months, we have witnessed a series of tragic events in which a number of immigrants have died. This latest incident in the Netherlands, together with the fires in several buildings housing immigrants in Paris and the recent dramatic events in Ceuta and Mellila, to name just a few, should serve as a warning of the hazardous situation affecting migrants in many of the Council of Europe member states. We must never forget that the bottom line of our migration policies and procedures must be respect for human rights, human dignity and the physical and mental integrity of the persons involved," he concluded.

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