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a serious 'supervisor' of the Cambodian programme just as it is beginning to wind down. Mr Burns and I both stressed to him the importance of meeting Cambodian needs as and when they arose, and of seeking better control of expenditure. He was himself concerned about the case for continuing the airlift, given its present largely non-urgent loads.
5.
Other meetings left less striking impressions,
I had an educative hour with the (Irish) no 2 in the Commission office in Bangkok, Mr Drury, on how the Commission put decisions on aid together across DG dividing lines, and I think Mr Duggin found our lunch with Martin B rber, UNHCR's (British) no 2 in their regional office a good opportunity to explain why we thought the Rizim 'Returnee Appeal' episode mishandled and ill-advised, The Senior ICRC delegate, Perez, explained in some detail how they saw themselves disengaging over coming months: in essence they wish only to do enough humanitarian work to give them a locus standi to intervene over prisoners of war etc, now that the 'disaster' phase is over.
South East Asian Department
17 December 1980
CONFIDENTIAL