RESTRICTED
FM BANGKOK
RESTRICTED
HICD 02613
RECEIVE
5 FEB 1992
Pe
17)
004352 MDLIAN 7398
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 48
OF 160335Z JANUARY 92
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP BRUSSELS, UKMIS GENEVA
INFO PRIORITY WASHINGTON, HANOI, PHNOM PENH, UKMIS NEW YORK
FROM PS/LORD CAITHNESS (VISITING)
FCO TELNO 31 (NOT TO ALL): LORD CAITHNESS' MEETING WITH MRS OGATA
SUMMARY
NR
1. MRS OGATA AND LORD CAITHNESS BRIEFED EACH OTHER ON THEIR VISITS TO RESPECTIVELY THE THAI BORDER CAMPS AND TO CAMBODIA
AND VIETNAM. THEY AGREED TO HOLD FULLER DISCUSSIONS IN
GENEVA SOON.
DETAIL
2. LORD CAITHNESS BRIEFED MRS OGATA ON HIS VISIT TO CAMBODIA.
HE HAD FOUND PRINCE SIHANOUK DEPRESSED. SIHANOUK WAS HAVING
DIFFICULTY HOLDING THE SNC TOGETHER. THE HUN SEN
ADMINISTRATION WAS IN A DESPARATE PLIGHT. IT HAS NO INCOME. THE ARMY WAS PAID LATE AND WAS RESORTING TO BANDITRY. EVERYONE WAS WAITING FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE UN SECRETARY- GENERAL'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE AND UNTAC. THE UN WOULD
COME UNDER GREAT PRESSURE TO STAY ON AFTER THE ELECTIONS. UNHCR AID WAS MUCH APPRECIATED, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SLOWNESS OF PAYMENT. LORD CAITHNESS BROUGHT MRS OGATA UP-TO-DATE ON OUR AID WORK. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF
PROPER COORDINATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS NGOS.
3. MRS OGATA SAID THAT THE UNHCR HAD COMPLETED A LAND SURVEY
IN CAMBODIA TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL AREAS FOR RETURNING REFUGEES. IT ALSO HAD A COMPLETED SURVEY OF POTENTIALLY MINED AREAS FROM THE HALO TRUST. THE UNHCR WOULD WORK WITH UNAMIC ON DEMINING. ONLY IN AREAS WHERE QUICK PROGRESS WAS ESSENTIAL MIGHT UNHCR ASK THE HALO TRUST SEPARATELY TO CARRY OUT DEMINING. THERE WAS A DIFFICULT BALANCE TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN MAKING EARLY PROGRESS ON RETURNING REFUGEES AND TAKING ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT RESETTLEMENT AREAS HAD BEEN THOROUGHLY DEMINED. UNHCR HAD ASKED THE HALO TRUST TO VERIFY
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