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MDTTAN 1556
PROGRAMME (WHICH BREAKS DOWN INTO 13,000 REFUGEES AND 12,000
AMERASIAN IMMIGRANTS) EXCEEDS THE FY 1988 ADMISSIONS CEILING
BY 16,500. THIS TO SOME EXTENT TAKES ACCOUNT OF SEVERAL THOU-
SAND FORMER RE-EDUCATION CAMP DETAINEES WHICH (SUBJECT TO
VIETNAM LIFTING THE QUOTE TEMPORARY UNQUOTE SUSPENSION OF TALKS
ON THIS ISSUE) THE US HOPE TO GAIN ACCESS TO LATER THIS YEAR.
BUT IT ALSO REFLECTS THE HIGH PRIORITY WHICH THE US GIVES TO
ODP AS A MEANS OF REDUCING ILLEGAL BOAT DEPARTURES.
6. SHULTZ EMPHASISED THAT THE US CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON
THE PRESERVATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST ASYLUM WHILST TRYING
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CLANDESTINE DEPARTURES. A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION DEPENDED IN PART ON THE EFFORTS OF THE SOUTH EAST ASIAN
NATIONS, HONG KONG AND THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO URGE VIETNAM TO EXPAND THE ORDERLY DEPARTURE PROGRAMME. TO THIS
END HE HAD HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH ASEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS IN
BANGKOK IN JULY AND THEY HAD AGREED THAT QUOTE OUR COMMON SEARCH FOR A SOLUTION TO THE REGION'S REFUGEE PROBLEMS WOULD
BE ADVANCED IF WE FORMED A WORKING GROUP COMPOSED OF FIRST
ASYLUM AND RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES UNQUOTE.
·
7 THE INTRODUCTION OF SCREENING NOW SEEMS TO BE FULLY ACCEPTED BY THE US. SHULTZ MADE PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO IT
IN HIS TESTIMONY SAYING THAT QUOTE THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION
OF LEGITIMATE NATIONAL SCREENING PROGRAMS MONITORED BY THE
UNHCR WOULD ENSURE THAT BONA FIDE REFUGEES ARE RECOGNISED
AND GIVEN FIRST ASYLUM. THOSE DEEMED NOT TO BE REFUGEES
SHOULD BE CARED FOR BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY UNTIL THEY
CAN RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR HOMES UNQUOTE.
8.
A DECISION ON THE PROPOSALS IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.
SIGNED SALLY O'BRIEN
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