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4.
During the general debate the Colombian Delegation, led by their Permanent Representative here Ambassador Charry-Samper, urged governments who had used the services of ICM for many years to join the organisation as full members. This theme was taken up by several other Latin American members and also by the US whose leader of the delegation, James N Purcell, said "I would be remiss if I did not add my government's belief that this organisation's strength, its sound administration, and its prudent financial management argue strongly for more governments to reflect upon what ICM can do, and to consider seriously full membership".
5. The Colombians felt so strongly about the issue that they tabled a draft resolution calling on the Director to take all appropriate measures in order that countries which benefit from or use ICM's programmes and services should become members of the Committee. Norway, bearing in mind observer countries' sensitivities and also the poorer countries' financial restraints, tabled an amendment which would have requested the Director only to encourage non-member countries to join. Support came in from both sides until it turned into a West versus Latin American struggle. The main participants were sent outside to produce a compromise text which resulted in the following wording being adopted by consensus:-
Requests the Director of the Committee to take appropriate measures with the cooperation of Member Governments, in order to encourage countries which benefit from ICM's programmes or regularly use its services, to become members of the Committee.
6. ICM contacts tell me that the Director is planning to begin a membership campaign in the near future. Indications are that Sweden and Canada are moving closer to rejoining and Australia are keeping a very close eye on what these and others are doing. I would expect the Director to ask to see the Ambassador shortly as a first step in the campaign, to bring the UK back to the fold, a step which ICM believes would even move observers such as France and Japan. In all my dealings with ICM and other government representatives I have been careful to say that there is still no indication of any change of thinking on our side.
7. Your letter also asked whether or not we could establish the sum which UNHCR reimbursed to ICM for their costs in transporting refugees to the UK. Kevin Lyonette (UNHCR) said that this amount would not actually appear in a UNHCR account but ICM could probably provide it. But he pointed out that the transportation of refugees to the UK was not part of the ICM regular programme.
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