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AND TRANSMITTED IT TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN GENEVA FOR
CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION.
5. THE ONLY OUTSTANDING ISSUE FOR THE PREPCON TO SETTLE
IS THE CREATION OF A PREPAROTORY COMMITTEE CON WHICH THE UK/HK WILL BE REPRESENTED) AND SUBORDINATE WORKING GROUPS, AS NECESSARY, TO DRAW UP DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CPA. NO DIFFICULTY IS EXPECTED.
COMMENT
6.
A HIGHLY SATISFACTORY OUTCOME WHICH OPENS THE WAY TO
A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN JUNE IN GENEVA.
7. THE ONLY CONCESSION TO VIETNAM OF ANY SIGNIFICANCE WAS TO CHANGE ''MUST'' TO ''SHOULD' IN PARAGRAPH 6(A) WHICH NOW READS AS FOLLOWS:
REPATRIATION/PLAN OF REPATRIATION:
(A) PERSONS DETERMINED NOT TO BE REFUGEES SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES REFLECTING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF STATES TOWARDS THEIR OWN CITIZENS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE TO ENCOURAGE THE VOLUNTARY RETURN OF SUCH PERSONS.
HOWEVER,
THIS WAS UNIVERSALLY JUDGED TO BE A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR SAVING HANOI'S FACE AND ASSURING UNAMITY ON THE DOCUMENT. THE VIETNAMESE WILL NO DOUBT PUBLICLY INSIST THAT THEIR POSITION ON FORCIBLE REPATRIATION IS FULLY SAFEGUARDED. THEY HAVE NOW SUBSCRIBED TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN CITIZENS WHO ARE DEEMED NOT TO BE REFUGEES WHICH WAS OUR BOTTOM LINE FOR THIS MEETING.
SPRECKLEY
YYYY
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