About 1,500 asylum seekers are in Sighthill

Asylum seeker Firsat Dag was one of hundreds who were moved to the city under the UK Government's dispersal scheme.

Tensions among residents soon surfaced in areas like Sighthill where the asylum seekers were settled into high-rise flats.

The murder of Mr Dag was not judged to be racially motivated but it left the refugee community in Scotland in fear.

Following the death, the Scottish Executive promised to bring together representatives from the city council, the Scottish refugee council and other voluntary bodies.

Past problems

At the meeting, Iain Gray said unrest in some parts of the country where asylum seekers were housed showed that much had to be done to ensure that refugees were fully accepted in Scotland.

He said: "There have clearly been problems in the past as asylum seekers and refugees have settled into their host communities.

The government is determined to give refugees every opportunity to build their lives as full and equal citizens

George Foulkes

"However, I am committed to ensuring that we in Scotland continue with our strong tradition of welcoming and integrating asylum seekers and refugees fleeing from oppression.

"The forum will work closely with refugees and community groups and its aim will be to help ensure that asylum seekers who achieve refugee status will be assisted to integrate into local communities as smoothly as possible."

Sally Daghlian, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, is a member of the forum and hopes it will improve the lives of refugees in Scotland.

She said: "Welcoming refugees into our society is an international, legal and moral duty which will enrich the lives of everybody."

Committed government

Scotland Office minister George Foulkes, who attended the meeting, said the forum would help the UK Government in its aim to help refugees settle more easily in this country.

He said: "The government is committed to integration as a vital part of the whole asylum process and is determined to give those who qualify as refugees every opportunity to build their lives as full and equal citizens."

The SRIF will discuss ways of helping asylum seekers to integrate into Scottish life and pass on information to the UK-wide National Refugee Integration Forum.