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national authorities. We must continue to work towards such conclusions.
I
can assure this Committee that in numerous settlements around the world, we are progressing precisely in this direction. The prospects of further large-scale voluntary repatriations to Angola and Zaire, to Namibia and Burma give hope for
the future.
Quite clearly, however, while it takes a relatively short time for a person to become a refugee, it takes much longer for a refugee to become self-supporting for the choice of solution is not always up to the refugee - or to us, in UNHCR. And here I must urge your understanding and co-operation, as the Representatives
of Governments.
Ultimately, both refugees and UNHCR are bound by what Governments will permit, or not permit, encourage or discourage, when it comes to the achieving of durable solutions. UNHCR can and must advocate courses of action that are humane and
orderly, economic and well-planned. But UNHCR cannot determine when, precisely, the refugee will be allowed to till the soil in his own support, or travel elsewhere to strike fresh roots. These decisions are your prerogative. But delays in taking such decisions inevitably add to our budgetary costs for care and main- tenance and take an awesome toll on the morale of refugees.
1
I am most grateful to the many countries that have encouraged refugees to become self-supporting whether in situations of first asylum, or of resettlement. And I fully understand the delicacy of the considerations, and the sensitivities of Governments, in areas where this has not yet proven possible. We must, however, continue to make every effort to find solutions consistent with human dignity - idleness and dependence on international charity provide no real solutions; they are also inconsistent with human dignity.
In regard to South-East Asia, it is imperative that we think and plan in advance in order to stay abreast of the demands of the situation.
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Whether we think of the tragic circumstances of the growing number of "boat people" or of those who continue to cross land frontiers to Thailand, Viet Nam or elsewhere, it appears to me that we must, continually, co-ordinate and align