-4-
THE DIMENSIONS AND COMPLEXITY OF THIS PROBLEM SHOULD
LEAD US TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GENEROSITY HAS BEEN AND IS BEING SHOWN BY THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES OF ASIA
EVEN AS
WE DEPLORE INSTANCES WHERE REFUGEES WERE DENIED REFUGE WE CANNOT EXPECT THESE COUNTRIES AND LIVES WERE LOST.
WHOSE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION PLACES THEM IN THE PATH OF THE REFUGEES' FLIGHT TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM ALONE.
THIS IS SURELY A PROBLEM THAT DEMANDS A BROADLY INTERNATIONAL
SOLUTION.
IN LIGHT OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS, THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONSIDER HOW ICEM MIGHT BEST BRING ITS ASSETS AND EXPERIENCE TO BEAR ON THE SEARCH FOR NEW APPROACHES
CERTAINLY A CONTINUATION OF ITS SPECIALI- TO THE PROBLEM.
ZED FUNCTIONS IN FACILITATING TRAVEL OF REFUGEES IS EXPECTED, BEYOND THAT, I SUGGEST THAT ICEM SHOULD EXPLORE HOW IT MIGHT MAKE ITS EXPERTISE AVAILABLE TO COUNTRIES THAT NEED MANPOWER AND SKILLS WITH A VIEW TO SATISFYING THOSE NEEDS BY DRAWING FROM THE RICH HUMAN RESOURCES REPRESENTED IN THE INDOCHINESE REFUGEES. I COMMEND SUCH A COURSE TO THIS ORGANIZATION, EVEN AS I EXPRESS THE APPRECIATION OF MY GOVERNMENT FOR WHAT ITS DIRECTOR AND FAR-FLUNG STAFF HAVE DONE SO FAR IN RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF THIS COMPELLING ISSUE.
LET ME CLOSE BY SAYING THAT WE HAVE A HUMAN CRISIS ON OUR HANDS WHICH GOES FAR BEYOND WHAT WE ANTICIPATED. IT PRESENTS A MAJOR CHALLENGE, BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE WHICH MUST BE MET,
THANK YOU.