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the principle of first asylum for refugees coming there by land and sea, they in turn expected an assurance that they would not be burdened with the residual problems and that no refugees would stay in their countries for more than a specified period. The countries of final settlement needed to set up local facilities in the region to expedite this process and were faced with significant financial problems.
13. The Meeting had before it a paper prepared by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees which highlighted the various aspects of the problem (see annex 1 below). The proceedings were marked by an extraordinary spirit of co-operation, and a number of countries put forward concrete and imaginative proposals. Generous offers of places of resettlement, of processing centres and of funds were made.
14. The discussions at the Meeting clarified a number of issues. A consensus also emerged on the framework of the plan of action.
15. In the first place, it was agreed that urgent efforts should be undertaken to reduce the backlog by resettlement on a larger and faster scale than hitherto. It was clearly understood that this movement should cover land cases as well as boat cases. Secondly, the Memorandum of Understanding concluded between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the orderly departure from Viet Nam of individuals to reunite with their families, as well as other cases involving humanitarian considerations, should be carried out, but not at the expense of those in the camps in South-East Asia. Thirdly, a major breakthrough was achieved on the establishment of processing centres. The availability of these facilities would make a direct and important contribution to reducing the hardships pertaining to the exodus of refugees and would provide a major reassurance to countries of first asylum. Work has already started on Galang Island, offered by Indonesia. The Government of the Philippines has also provided a new site for 50,000 refugees, the costs for which will be met by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees within the limits of available funds. Special attention was also paid to the question of rescue at sea for the so-called "boat-people". The High Commissioner for Refugees has already taken steps towards mobilizing international co-operative efforts to achieve this by ensuring that ships in the area are alerted to the vital need to rescue refugees in distress. Finally, the general principles of asylum and non-refoulement were endorsed.
16. The Secretary-General had stressed that much of the success of any plan of action would depend on a substantial reduction of the disorderly exodus of thousands of persons from their homelands. During the Meeting there was considerable discussion of the possibility of a moratorium on "illegal departures". Following extensive consultations, the Government of Viet Nam gave assurances that, for a reasonable period of time, it would make every effort to stop illegal departures and to co-operate with UNHCR in expanding the present seven-point programme designed to bring departures within orderly and safe channels.
17. The Secretary-General stated also that he would be following developments in the area personally, and through his Special Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in South-East Asia. The role of the Special Representative would be, in particular, to maintain close contacts with the Governments concerned.
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