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7. FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED ABOVE, WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD OBSERVE THE DIPLOMATIC PROPRIETIES AND OFFER AN ALTERNATION OF VENUES. WE UNDERSTAND YOUR RELUCTANCE TO HOLD ROUND TWO OF THE
TALKS IN HONG KONG. WE ARE READY TO RECOMMEND TO MINISTERS THAT
THE NEXT ROUND SHOULD BE IN LONDON WHICH WOULD BE A SMALL BUT
SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL GAIN FOR THE VIETNAMESE : ALTERNATIVES ARE
GENEVA (BECAUSE OF THE UNHCR CONNECTION, AMOUNG OTHER REASONS) OR BANGKOK.
OBJECTIVES
8. WE AGREE IN GENERAL TERMS WITH YOUR PROPOSED OBJECTIVES FOR THE NEXT ROUND (PARA 4 OF TUR). BUT WE IMAGINE THAT AGREEMENT ON
A REPATRIATION PACKAGE WOULD AT BEST AMOUNT TO THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF CERTAIN BASIC PRINCIPLES, TO BE FLESHED OUT IN SUBSEQUENT
DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN EXPERTS. THESE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY NEED
TO INVOLVE UNHCR EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.
9.
THE NEAR
FUTURE.
WE WONDER WHETHER WE SHOULD SET OURSELVES THE ADDITIONAL
OBJECTIVE OF AGREEEMENT ON THE REPATRIATION OF VOLUNTARY
RETURNEES BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND. IF WE COULD TELL THE VIETNAMES
AT THE NEXT ROUND THAT ALL VOLUNTEERS HAVE RETURNED, IT WOULD MAKE
IT HARD FOR THEM TO RESIST THE CONCLUSION THAT ROUND TWO IS NECESSARILY CONCERNED WITH INVOLUNTARY RETURNS. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE A DROP IN THE OCEAN, THE OUBLICISED RETURN OF VOLUNTEERS
COULD BE OF SYMBOLIC IMPORTANCE AND OF SOME DETERRENT VALUE.
UNHCR WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE INVOLVED. WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR
YOUR COMMENTS ON THE NUMBERS INVOLVED (WE HAVE SEEN PRESS REPORT
OF NEW REQUESTS FOR REPATRIATION) AND THOSE OF HANOI ON THE
PROSPECTS OF PERSUADING THE VIETNAMESE THROUGH THE DIPLOMATIC
CHANNEL TO ACCEPT THESE PEOPLE BACK IN
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
10. WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS ALMOST CERTAINLY THE KEY TO
PROGRESS. IN PUTTING OUR PROPOSALS TO MINISTERS, WE INTEND TO PRESENT OUR IDEAS IN TERMS OF LIMITED REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE
THROUGH THE UNHCR, QUITE DISTINCT FROM GENERAL DEVELOPMENT AID (WHICH IN ANY CASE, THE VIETNAMESE HAVE BEEN CAREFUL NOT TO ASK FOR). THE IDEAS IN THE CONCEPTUAL PAPER PRESENTED BY UNHCR AT
THE ICG MEETING IN OTTAWA OFFER A USEFUL BASIS. IT IS HELPFUL
THAT UNHCR ARE PRIMARILY THINKING IN TERMS OF AID IN KIND (A
QUOTE KIT UNQUOTE COMPRISING TOOLS AND RICE FOR RURAL RETURNEES
AND A MODEST CASH HANDOUT ONLY FOR URBAN RETURNEES). THE SUMS
ENVISAGED, BOTH PER HEAD AND OVERALL, ARE ENCOURAGINGLY MODEST. WE BELIEVE THAT UNHCR WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST PLACED TO ESTABLISH
THE LEVEL OF ASSISTANCE REQUIRED AND TO COORDINATE DISBURSEMENT.
THERE WILL CLEARLY BE A NEED FOR SOME KIND OF RECEPTION CENTRE IN
VIETNAM FOR RETURNEES: THIS MIGHT BE AN OBVIOUS CANDIDATE FOR
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