The United Nations refugee agency Wednesday expressed serious concerns over reports that Bhutan may be preparing to force more ethnic Nepalese out of the country, DPA reported. UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Gutteres told reporters in Kathmandu that "if such a danger exists, it must be stopped at all cost." Gutteres arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday on a three-day visit to take stock of the refugee situation and efforts to resettle them in third country. He met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to discuss the refugee crisis and visited refugee camps in eastern Nepal to personally meet with refugees and hear their problems. "However, I am hopeful that more people will not be forced out and countries directly or indirectly involved with the Bhutanese refugees must cooperate to end the crisis," Gutteres said. He also said that third country resettlement was a good option for the refugees but his organization would not put pressure on the refugees. "The refugees themselves must choose on their own free will whether they prefer third-country resettlement," Gutteres said. Gutteres will leave for the Bhutanese capital Thimphu on Thursday and said he was hopeful his talks with the Bhutanese authorities will be positive to end the crisis.
