CONFIDENTIAL
нко 24318
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026615
MDHIAN 6207
CONFIDENTIAL
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO DESKBY 061200Z FCO TELNO 372
OF 06102OZ JULY 88
TOP COPY O DIST 7
INFO ROUTINE BANGKOK, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, MANILA, JAKARTA INFO ROUTINE BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, WASHINGTON, CANBERRA, OTTAWA, TOKYO INFO ROUTINE HANOI
450
YOUR TELNO 1784 TO HONG KONG: VIETNAMESE BOAT-PEOPLE IN HONG KONG:
VIETNAMESE REQUEST FOR TALKS
1. UNHCR HAVE CONFIRMED THAT CO THACH WROTE TO UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ON 1 JULY EXPRESSING VIETNAMESE READINESS TO HOLD BILATERAL TALKS
WITH COUNTRIES OF THE REGION TO DISCUSS RETURN OF BOAT-PEOPLE ON A STRICTLY VOLUNTARY BASIS (PARA 3 OF HANOI TELNO 250). UNHCR HAS BEEN INVITED TO VISIT HANOI BETWEEN 10-20 JULY. HEAD OF ASIA BUREAU WILL PROBABLY UNDERTAKE VISIT.
2. UNHCR FULLY UNDERSTAND OUR WISH TO RESPOND PROMPTLY TO VIETNAMESE INVITATION AND BELIEVE IT WILL REINFORCE THEIR EFFORTS TO PERSUADE VIETNAM TO ACCEPT RETURNEES. THEY HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AFTER INITIAL CONTACT WITH VIETNAMESE.
3. UNHCR IS LIKELY TO TAKE A CAUTIOUS APPROACH. ON EMPHASIS BY VIETNAM ON VOLUNTARY BASIS OF RETURN, IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR HIGH COMMISSIONER TO BE INVOLVED IN RETURN OF THOSE SCREENED-OUT, AS IT SEEMED UNLIKELY THAT MANY WOULD BE PREPARED TO RETURN TO VIETNAM VOLUNTARILY. FORCIBLE RETURN WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO UNHCR ON LEGAL
AND HUMANITARIAN GROUNDS.
4. UNHCR ALSO COMMENTED THAT CO THACH'S LETTER REFERRED TO NEED FOR
'ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE IN AREAS UNDERGOING SERIOUS ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES WHICH ARE OR HAVE BEEN AREAS OF ILLEGAL DEPARTURES'' IT WAS CLEAR THAT VIETNAM'S INTENTION WAS TO WIDEN REQUEST FOR ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE BEYOND IMMEDIATE HELP FOR RETURNEES, AS DISCUSSED AT ICG MEETING IN OTTAWA IN APRIL. THE ISSUE OF SUCH WIDER AID FELL OUTSIDE UNHCR'S RESPONSIBILITIES.
5. RAFEEUDIN AHMED IS SEEING HOCKE TODAY AND WILL BE COMING TO MY DINNER FOR SIR C TICKELL TOMORROW (7 JULY).
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