RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS GENEVA 2016052 JULY
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELMO 347 OF 28 JULY 1972
RESTRICTED
(1434A)
HKKZURAI
27/2
INFO PRIORITY UKMIS NEW YORK, HONG KONG, PARIS, MANILA, WASHINGTON ROME, CANBERRA, TOKYO, DUBLIN, OTTAWA, BOHNG WELLINGTON, UKREP BRUSSELS, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA AND DANGKOK,
INFO SAVING HANOI,
MEETING ON SOUTHEAST ASIA REFUGEES
23
1, THE UN SECRETARY-GENERAL OPENED THE CONFERENCE BY STRESSING
THAT THE PURPOSE WAS NOT TO ADOPT RESOLUTIONS OR ENDORSE
GENERALITIES BUT TO SEEK CONCRETE RESULTS. IT WAS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM TO ACCEPT THE VAST NUMBERS INVOLVED FOR PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT. MORE ASSURED
RESETTLEMENT PLACES IN OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD HELP THE FORMER
TO APPLY THE FIRST ASYLUM PRINCIPLE. THE MEETING WAS DEALING
WITH SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN CAUSE. THERE WERE OF COURSE POLITICAL
ROOTS. LIKE OTHER REFUGEE SITUATION THIS ONE DERIVED FROM
HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE UN FACED A DILEMA
BECAUSE IT SUPPORTED THE RIGHT TO LEAVE ONE'S COUNTRY SUT DID
NCT WISH DEPARTURES TO BE IN SUCH A FORM AS TO PUT LIVES AT
JEOPARDY, WALDHEIM WAS READY TO CONTINUE DILATERAL TALKS WITH
A VIEW TO HELPING SOLVE THE PROBLEM. IT THE HUMANITARIAN
AXPECTS COULD BE SOLVED THE OTHER ASPECTS WOULD BE MORE EASY
TO DEAL WITH. HE APPEALED TO PARTICIPANTS TO REFRAME FROM
ACRIMONIOUS DEBATE. THE KAIN POINTS ON THE AGENDA WERE PRACTICAL
CHES: ASYLUM, SAFE AND ORDERLY DEPARTURES, TRANSIT CENTRES,
RESCUE AT SEA RESETTLEMENT AND DOUBLE SOLUTION. HE HOPED
FOR SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR A REAL PROGRAMME OF ACTION.
THERE COULD BE NO SOLUTION WITHOUT THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRIES
OF ORIGIN AND THE COUNTRIES OF TRANSIT.
2. THE UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUCEES THEN SPOKE IN FAMILIAR TERMS. THE MASSIVE EXODUS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE IN THE PRESENT MANNER. POLITICAL PROBLEMS REQUIRED POLITICAL
SOLUTIONS BUT THESE WERE UP TO THE COVERNMENTS CONCERNED. HE
HOPED FOR FIRM COMMITMENTS OF PLACES AND FINANCE OF AN ON-GOING CHARACTER. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN ITS TOTALITY.
RESTRICTED
/ IN