GLASGOW is a vibrant, multi-cultural city, which is always demonstrated during Refugee Week celebrations.

Last week's festival featured concerts, comedy, dance performances and much more, and showed just how much of a contribution refugees and asylum seekers make to our country.

Last week I attended the launch of Scottish Refugee Week 2013 at the Tron Theatre.

Having been lucky enough to attend last year's launch as well, I knew I'd be in for a great event. The launch gives sneak previews of the varying events taking place in Scotland during Refugee Week, and I enjoyed the Lajee Dance Troupe's performance and songs from Givin' It Laldie choir from the Gorbals.

The theme of this year's Refugee Week is 'Heritage', and it reminds me of how proud I am of my own heritage.

My father was an economic migrant from Pakistan, and my mother's family had to flee Kenya for safety reasons after the Mau Mau uprising that made life for Asians in the region very difficult at that time.

The welcome from the Glaswegian community, and the safety for my mother's family after a difficult period in Kenya, was very important to them.

Under the current UK Government's rules I doubt they would have been allowed into this country.

I'd like to thank all of Scotland's services and organisations who work to provide essential support and advice to asylum seekers and refugees – without them many would be destitute and vulnerable, when they have turned to Scotland for help and protection.

Scotland has a long and proud history of welcoming asylum seekers and refugees, which is celebrated not just this week but every week.

The SNP Scottish Government believes that asylum seekers and refugees should be welcomed, supported and integrated into Scottish life from day one.

As a progressive state, an independent Scotland would have the opportunity to give asylum seekers a place of safety, and would have the power to implement fair, sensible and humane policies on immigration.

I don't want to live in a Scotland where we allow the detention of refugee families, continue to have dawn raids and where those asylum seekers who want to contribute to the workforce are not allowed to do so.

ON a different note, it was fantastic to see Lord Coe's interview with the Evening Times last week.

He said that the 2018 Youth Olympic Games would be an "extraordinary opportunity" for Glasgow, and that we tick the boxes on both counts in terms of youth and sport.

Glasgow's bid will also allow for regeneration in Sighthill, providing new housing and community facilities.

Lord Coe's support is a great boost for Glasgow's bid for the Games, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the announcement next month.