CONFIDENTIAL
1567
MDHIAN 09.0
NO/NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MORE WILL COME FORWARD. THE ASEAN COUNTRIES ARE CLEARLY FRUSTRATED BY THE RELUCTANCE OF THE U.S., AND VIETNAM TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES TO VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. IF THERE CONTINUES TO BE NO DISCUSSION OF ALTERNATIVES, THE ASEAN REACTION COULD PUT THE ICIR IN JEOPARDY.
6. GIVEN THE SENSITIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH MANDATORY REPATRIATION, THE IDEA OF A REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE, TO WHICH THOSE SCREENED OUT WOULD BE TRANSFERRED SIX MONTHS AFTER THEIR STATUS HAD BEEN DETERMINED, MUST IN OUR VIEW BE GIVEN VERY SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. THIS PROPOSAL, IF PROPERLY IMPLEMENTED, COULD EFFECTIVELY DEAL WITH MOST OF THE PROBLEMS WE NOW FACE IN HANDLING THE VBP AND PROVIDE TIME TO TACKLE THE MORE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION. IT COULD ALSO ATTRACT SUFFICIENT ASEAN SUPPORT TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
WILSON
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