HOR CH
396935 (UNHCR) GENEVA 14DEC88 17032
199-1412-0005
HCR/GBR/0819
840
FOLLOWING IS TEXT OF PRESS RELEASE ISSUED IN GENEVA TODAY 14 DECEMBER:
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN UNHCR AND THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
UNHCR AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM HAVE CONCLUDED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ON THE PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES FOR VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION TO VIET NAM. THIS MEMORANDUM, SIGNED IN GENEVA ON 13 DECEMBER 1998 BY UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES JEAN-PIERRE HOCKE AND VIETNAMESE ASSISTANT FOREIGN MINISTER VU KHOAN, SETS OUT THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH FUTURE VOLUNTARY RETURNS TO VIET NAM ARE TO TAKE PLACE. IT ALSO REAFFIRMS THE COMMITMENT OF THE TWO PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE HUMANITARIAN PROBLEMS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, THROUGH THE EXPANSION AND ACCELERATION OF THE PROGRAMME FOR ORDERLY DEPARTURE FROM VIET NAM AS WELL AS CONTINUED RESETTLEMENT FROM COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM.
UNDER THE TERMS OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, THE VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT VOLUNTARY RETURNS TO VIET NAM TAKE PLACE IN CONDITIONS OF SAFETY AND DIGNITY. THIS INCLUDES AN UNDERTAKING NOT TO PROSECUTE RETURNEES OR TO TAKE ANY PUNITIVE OR DISCRIMINATORY MEASURES AGAINST THEM. THE MEMORANDUM ALSO PROVIDES FOR FULL UNHCR ACCESS TO RETURNEES IN VIET NAM, IN THE EXERCISE OF UNHCR'S TRADITIONAL MONITORING FUNCTIONS.
PERSONS RETURNING TO VIET NAM ARE, ACCORDING TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, TO BE ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THEIR PLACES OF ORIGIN, AND UNHCR WILL OBTAIN THE FUNDS TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE TO RETURNEES. THIS HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE WOULD COVER SUCH AREAS AS TRANSPORTATION, AND THE INITIAL INSTALLATION OF RETURNEES.
RECEPTION
THE CONCLUSION OF THIS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING IS A STEP FORWARD IN THE EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY UNHCR AND CONCERNED GOVERNMENTS TO RESOLVE THE ONGOING PROBLEM OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA. ON 1 DECEMBER 1989, THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 154,500 PERSONS IN UNHCR-ASSISTED CAMPS IN THE REGION, INCLUDING 60,000 VIETNAMESE.
(UNHCR GENEVA)
COL 99 1412 0005 840 0819 5 14 13 1988 1 1988 154 500 60 000
27492 HCR CH
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