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B.
In regard to the "guarantees" for resettlement
7.
(i) Can countries of resettlement give "iron-clad" guarantees that
no refugee will be left indefinitely in the centre?
(ii) If the affirmative, when and how could such guarantees be offered? (iii) If in the negative, what are the 'best endeavours" that can be
promised?
(iv) Would the latter suffice for the ASEAN countries who have made the present proposal, or, in effect, require a modification of the present proposal?
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(v) Related to (ii) and (iii) above, can countries of resettlement
indicate an intent to admit a specified number of refugees, on a "first-come first-moved" basis, even if such refugees do not qualify under existing selection criteria? Alternatively, can existing criteria be "liberalised" in any other respect? (vi) Again, related to (ii) and (iii) above is the question of over-
all numbers to be resettled, regardless of the selection criteria.
While, quite obviously, every effort must be made to widen the base of resettlement countries, can the major resettlement countries presently indicate increases in their numbers, or announce guaran- teed quotas on an on-going basis?
These are some of the issues that arise inmediately on considering the proposal for a special centre. Before proceeding further with the proposal, it may, as a start, be prudent to seek the reactions of major donor/resettlement countries to these questions. On the basis of their reactions it would be possible to gauge future possibilities.
8. It goes without saying that UNHCR would welcome any suggestions that would facilitate humane and durable solutions to the problems being faced by refugees in South East Asia. However, such suggestions must not, in any way, weaken the fundamentally important and universally necessary - principle of asylum, nor lead to a relaxation in current efforts to increase and widen the pace and scope of resettlement from South East Asia. Clearly,
therefore, the proposal for a special centre should not serve as a substitute for present efforts, nor should it in any way open the possibility to group. of refugees being stranded indefinitely in such a centre.
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24.1.79
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