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HTED THAT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS THERE HAS BEEN A "DRAMIC INCREASE" IN THE NUMBER OF REFUGEES FROM THE SOVIET UNION, "PRIMARILY BECAUSE THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT HAS LIBERALIZED ITS POLICY ON ISSUING EXIT VISAS." UNDER PRESENT PLANS, HE SAID, THE UNITED STATES WILL RESETTLE ABOUT 35,000 SOVIFTS AND EASTERN EUROPEANS THIS YEAR AND DURING THE NEXT TWO FISCAL YEARS, SUBJECT TO THE FINAL APPROVAL OF THE PRESIDENT.
IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FROM SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRMAN DANIEL INOUYE (D-HAWAII), CLARK AGREED THAT OTHER COUNTRIES MUST REAR THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THE BURDEN OF CARING FOR THE WORLD'S REFUGEES.
"IF THE PROBLEM IS TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY ALLEVIATED," HE SAID, "IT HAS TO BE AN INTERNATIONAL EFFORT." CLARK NOTED THAT ONE OF HIS MAJOR INITIATIVES AS U.S. COORDINATOR FOR REFUGEE AFFAIRS WILL BE TO "STEP UP OUR DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE OTHER COUNTRIES TO INCREASE THEIR CONTRIFUTIONS" TOWARD THE CARE AND RESETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL REFUGEES.
}