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125002

MDLIAN 2045

SUPERVISION. THE MINISTERS THUS REITERATED THEIR CALL FOR

VIETNAM TO WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM CAMBODIA. THE MINISTERS REAFFIRMED THAT NO ASSISTANCE SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VIETNAM OF

SUCH A NATURE AS TO SUSTAIN AND ENHANCE THE VIETNAMESE

OCCUPATION OF CAMBODIA.

THE MINISTERS EXPRESSED THEIR FULL SUPPORT FOR PRINCE

SIHANOUK'S EFFORTS TO SEEK A POLITICAL SOLUTION.

8.

REFUGEES

ASEAN AND EC MINISTERS SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE PLIGHT

OF THOSE WHO HAVE FLED FROM INDOCHINA, INCLUDING THOSE STILL IN REFUGEE TRANSIT CAMPS IN ASEAN COUNTRIES AND THOSE ALONG THE THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER, REMAINED THE CAUSE OF SERIOUS CONCERN. THESE REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS HAVE AN INALIENABLE RIGHT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES. THE

COMMUNITY IS READY TO ASSIST IN THEIR RETURN. AS LONG AS THE FLOW OF REFUGEES CONTINUES, HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS CO-ORDINATED BETWEEN THE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM, THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS

CONCERNED WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO EASE THE SUFFERING OF THE

REFUGEES AND TO FIND THEM A NEW HOME.

THE MINISTERS WERE SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT

DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE FLOW OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE. THEY WERE OF THE VIEW THAT VIETNAM SHOULD, IN CONFORMITY WITH HUMANITARIAN PRINCIPLES AND IN THE INTEREST OF REGIONAL PEACE, STABILITY AND HARMONY, COOPERATE WITH THE UNHCR AND THE RESETTLEMENT COUNTRIES TO FIND A SOLUTION. VIETNAM

SHOULD ALSO ACCEPT THE RETURN OF THOSE WHO DO NOT MEET THE AGREED CRITERIA FOR REFUGEES STATUS, SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY GUARANTEES AS TO THEIR TREATMENT ON RETURN.

A SEAN AND EC MINISTERS STRESSED THEIR DETERMINATION TO

MAINTAIN THEIR COORDINATED RESPONSE TO THE SITUATION.

SEC COREU

FIN DE TEXTE (PART 1 OF 2)

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