with the return of those (now over 350) who have already
asked to go back to Vietnam;
?
(d) the two sides agreed that UNCHR was the
appropriate agency to arrange a humanitarian repatriation
programme, which would include modest reintegration
assistance;
(e) we confirmed that we were ready in principle to
contribute to such a programme through UNHCR.
I believe this is as good a result as we could
reasonably have expected. It makes a step forward
towards an overall agreement. The key provision is
Vietnam's acceptance of the need for comprehensive
arrangements. We made it clear to the Vietnamese that
all those who did not qualify for resettlement elsewhere
would have to go back. The Vietnamese understood this.
While they are still prepared to take back
only volunteers at this stage, they accepted that this
problem will have to be dealt with step by step.
It was clear that the Vietnamese would not accept any
returns without some form of reintegration assistance.
They were frank about the political difficulties they
face, including the reluctance of communities to take
back people who had left illegally; the lack of
facilities; and the general poverty of the country. A
properly organised repatriation programme could encourage
more to ask to return. They confirmed that their ideas un reintegration assistance>
on a modest scale, in line with UNHCR precedents
were on
elsewhere.
UNHCR have discussed a package on these lines
with the Vietnamese and will put proposals to them