SUPPLEMENTARIES
VALUE OF VIETNAMESE ASSURANCE
1. Time will tell whether the Vietnamese will fulfil this
undertaking to Dr Waldheim.
and I hope that they will.
PERIOD OF MORATORIUM
It is a solemn and formal undertaking,
2. The assurance is for "a reasonable period of time". This is
better than a fixed period; a reasonable period, in the Government's
view, is however long it takes to resettle those in camps outside
Vietnam, and to work out acceptable and orderly arrangements for
those in Vietnam who will wish to leave. Those now in camps must
have priority. The Secretary-General repeatedly stressed this.
FIRST PORT OF CALL
3. The conference has gone a long way to solving this issue.
The Secretary-General called for full respect for the principle of
first asylum. Once this is universally observed again, refugees
whether arriving on foot, in their own boats or after rescue at sea
can then be given sanctuary until permanent resettlement. If the
Vietnamese Government stands by its undertaking, there should be no
people risking death at sea, at least for a time.
INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR REFUGEE
RESETTLEMENT
4. We welcome the proposal included in Vice-President Mondale's
speech which is designed to assist the permanent resettlement of
refugees from all continents in developing countries. We are ready
to participate in the working out of this concept.
5. We will consider making a contribution at the appropriate
time.
16.