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Search and Rescue
9.
Participants could agree to welcome proposals by nations in
a position to do so to mount search and rescue operations and to
accept responsibility for resettlement of those rescued without
relying on asylum at another port of call outside their own state
centre].
[except, if appropriate, at an international processing cent
I I I POTENTIAL FOR SUPPORT
10. The following maritime nations, apart from most members of the
consultative group, are known to have given commitments to accept
for resettlement any refugees picked up by their flag vessels when
such refugees are not accepted by other countries:
Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany,
Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
The degree of commitment varies in each case and in some cases no
public commitment has been given. But the countries on this list
might be expected to give some measure of support for the
proposals outlined above. If more of these countries could be
persuaded to make a public commitment, this might persuade other
major maritime nations to follow suit.
11. The likely reaction of the coastal states in the area where
refugees are likely to be picked up is more difficult to predict.
Some, eg China and Taiwan, are unlikely to commit themselves to
the first port of call principle. But if the major maritime nations
were prepared to accept the principle of resettlement as a Last
!
resort in the state of registry or beneficial ownership some
countries such as Singapore might be persuaded to relax their
current attitude to the principle of first port of call as a
temporary asylum.
16 July 1979
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