CONFIDENTIAL
HUD 243/7 ния
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 1998
OF 250645Z MAY 88
INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA, WASHINGTON
+
54
050367
MDLIAN 9883
TOP COPY
DIST
T Res
MIPT: VIETNAMESE REFUGEES
FULL TEXT OF US CONSULATE GENERAL'S SPEAKING NOTE AS FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
1. THE EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM AND THE REST OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WHICH HAS WORKED WITH THEM IN MEETING THE
CHALLENGE OF INDOCHINESE REFUGEES CAN BE PROUND OF THEIR ACCOMPL-
I SHMENTS OVER THE LAST THIRTEEN YEARS.
2. THE AVAILABILITY OF FIRST ASYLUM HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR JOINT SUCCESSES.
3. RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN AN UPSURGE IN VIETNAMESE ARRIVING BY BOAT, A DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS STRAINING THE FABRIC OF OUR COOPERATIVE EFFORT.
4.
WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THE DIFFICULTIES POSED FOR YOU BY THE CONT- INUING FLOW OF ASYLUM SEEKERS FROM INDOCHINA, THE NEED STILL EXISTS FOR REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO FLEE PERSECUTION AT HOME.
5. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT SUCH REFUGE REMAINS AVAILABLE AND TO FIND WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE OVERALL PROBLEM OF A SYLUM SEEKERS WHICH DO NOT FURTHER RISK THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO FLEE.
6. THE U.S. REMAINS COMMITTED TO PLAYING THE LEADING ROLE AMONG RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES IN SUPPORT OF THE FIRST ASYLUM COUNTRIES. ARE DETERMINED THAT THE BURDEN NOT BE LEFT TO YOU ALONE.
WE
7. IN THAT SPIRIT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO SPARE NO EFFORT TO MAINTAIN OUR RESETTLEMENT FROM FIRST ASYLUM CAMPS AT A HIGH LEVEL.
8. WE FACE SEVERE BUDGET PROBLEMS AND COMPETING DEMANDS FOR OUR LIMITED RESOURCES, BUT WE HAVE OVERCOME THESE CONSTRAINTS IN THE
1
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL