QLD: Far north Qld shire willing to take Kosovo refugees

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-1999
QLD: Far north Qld shire willing to take Kosovo refugees

CAIRNS, April 8 AAP - A far north Queensland shire wants to take some of the 4,000 Kosovo
Albanian refugees likely to be relocated to Australia as part of humanitarian efforts in the
Balkans.

Mareeba shire mayor Chris Lewis said the shire was an ideal place to take in some of the
refugees because it had one of the few established Albanian communities in Australia.

He said consultation with the local Albanian community showed there was a lot of
accommodation available in the district, just north-west of Cairns.

"We have our own Albanian Muslim mosque, and accommodation can be provided on the farms in
the area as most have vacant workers' accommodation," Councillor Lewis said.

"Because of the strength of this community, I think they would be accommodated and would
assimilate without too many problems.

"We are a rural-based community, which is where many of the refugees are coming from, and
we are close to an international airport."

Mr Lewis said shires such as Mareeba had a responsibility to help refugees caught in the
middle of the Kosovo crisis.

"We are proud of our multicultural community and proud to acknowledge the contribution
Albanian farmers have made to making our economy as strong as it is," Mr Lewis said.

"We are happy to put our hand up to assist.

"It will be easier for them to assimilate in a place like Mareeba, rather than in army
bases or in the outback somewhere."

AAP dt/jak/sd/pa

KEYWORD: KOSOVO REFUGEES QLD

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