Luxembourg, 13/10/2005 (Agence Europe) - The EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers adopted conclusions on the regional protection programmes at the JHA Council on Wednesday in Luxembourg (see EUROPE 9044). Commissioner Franco Frattini, accompanied by the High Commissioner on Refugees Antonio Guterres, recalled to the press that it is “important not to confuse refugees and illegal immigrants". He added that “the regional protection programmes carried out by the European Union in collaboration with the High Commission on Refugees (HCR) are an excellent opportunity to protect vulnerable populations”. The first pilot regional protection programme is due to cover the region of Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus, and the Commission is to launch dialogue with the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Great Lakes/East Africa area, to identify where the second pilot programme should be developed. “An African pilot programme is all the more important now that the European Union and the African Union have sealed their aid partnership in Brussels”, commented Mr Frattini (EUROPE 9047). Antonio Guterres wanted to underscore “the importance of fighting intolerance and populism”, making the point that “refugees are not terrorists; they are the victims of terror”.