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asylum to refugees fleeing from at least 17 African countries. countries both generate and receive refugees. Responding to the impact of refugees has been complicated by the natural disasters of drought and locusts, and by the economic crises afflicting many of these developing countries.
For most of those African refugees needing protection and assistance from the international community, reselllement to the United States is not the desired solution. Most can benefit from the hospitality offered by neighboring nations. Those in need of resettlement outside of Africe are refugees in life-threatening situations or refugees who cannot easily be assimilated for example, urban Ethiopians and some South Africans.
For FY 1987, we are proposing an admissions ceiling of 3,500. This will allow us to process those refugees who cannot be resettled elsewhere, as well as a limited number of African refugees currently in first asylum in Europe.
Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
Unfortunately, the number of individuals who are granted permission to depart the Soviet Union has continued to decline in the past year. We continue to press for freer emigration from the Soviet Dalon and have adjusted our mission ceiling accordingly. The president raised this issue with Chairman Gorbachev in Geneva, and I intend to do the same with the Soviet foreign minister whenever we meet.
We anticipate that the requested 10,000 admissions will allow us to process not only the hoped for increase from the Soviet Union, but also those Romanians registered for the Third Country Processing Program, as well as the regular flow of refugees who continue to arrive from Eastern Europe.
Near East and South Asia
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 over five million Afghans have sought asylum in neighboring countries, almost three million of them in Pakistan alone. The Afghan refugee population is supported by long-term international assistance efforts to which we are a major contributor.
At the same time more than two million Palestinians in the Near East are registered with UNRWA. While its role is indirect, UNRWA is an important element in efforts to preempt the sort of desperation that can lead to extremism. It thus helps create a climate that will be fundamental to any successful peace process.
In Iran the tyrannical revolution led by Khomeini has driven thousands from their homeland, many of whom seek a new life in Europe and the United States. As Congress has acknowledged, many Iranian religious minorities continue to be persecuted. Most particularly, the Baha'i, as well as Christians and Jews, are included in the U.S. resettlement program.
For FY 1987, the president has recommended a ceiling of 8,000 refugees, to allow us to continue to provide adequate resettlement opportunities for these populations.
Conclusion
Since 1981, over 500,000 persons have been brought to this country as refugees to begin new lives. In coordination with the efforts of state and local governments, civic organizations, voluntary agencies, and thousands of private citizens, the administration remains committed to help give these people a new opportunity to live free from the fear of persecution.
Yet there have been frustrations and disappointments:
The unfortunate unilateral Vietnamese suspension of interviews for the UNHCR's Orderly Departure Program, which has also stalled the president's initiative for Amerasian children;
the continued failure of the Vietnamese to respond to our initiative to accept re-education camp political prisoners;
the Cuban refusal to implement the Mariel Migration Agreement; and the Soviet Union's continued refusal to allow those
wishing to leave to do so, especially Soviet JewS
Mr. Chairman, I pledge to you that this administration will never relent in its efforts to resolve these profound humanitarian issues. With the bipartisan support of Congress, we will continue in our traditional humanitarian spirit to provide for the needs of refugees