THURSDAY. JANUARY 25. 1990
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GENERAL RECOGNITION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION ACHIEVED
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THE REFUGEE CO-ORDINATOR. MR MIKE HANSON. SAID TODAY THURSDAY I GENEVA WAS THE MAIN ACHIEVEMENT OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING IN THE GENERAL RECOGNITION OF MANDATORY REPATRIATION BY THE WORLD
COMMUNITY.
HE SAID WHAT WAS NOT AGREED AT THE MEETING WAS WHEN MANDATORY REPATRIATION SHOULD START.
HE SAID THIS FAILURE TO ACHIEVE A CONSENSUS ON A TIME-FRAME FOR MANDATORY REPATRIATION WAS DISAPPOINTING.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DISCUSSIONS AT THE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING HAD COME CLOSE TO A FULL CONSENSUS WITH ONLY TWO COUNTRIES OPPOSING THE GENERAL AGREEMENT.
"APART FROM THE UNITED STATES AND VIETNAM. ALL PARTICIPANTS
SHOULD AGREED THAT THE MANDATORY REPATRIATION PROGRAMME
COMMENCE IN
JULY.
"IT WAS AGREED THAT THERE WOULD BE MONITORING OF RETURNEES' WELFARE BY AN INTERNATIONAL AGENCY.
"THIS AMOUNTS TO VERY CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS AND UNHCR HAVE THE AGREED TO UNDERTAKE FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH A VIEW TO REMOVING REMAINING OBSTACLES TO CONSENSUS.
MR HANSON SAID HE HOPED THAT THE FURTHER RESULT IN AN AGREEMENT ON TIMING.
THESE FURTHER
CONSULTATIONS WOULD
DISCUSSIONS.
THE
"WHATEVER THE OUTCOME OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY REMAINS THAT OF REPATRIATING THOSE BOAT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR REFUGEE STATUS." HE SAID.
OF A NEW DEADLINE ARRIVING IN HONG KONG NEW ARRIVALS. WOULD
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION FOR VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE, AND THAT ALL VBP AFTER THE JUNE 16. 1988 CUT-OFF DATE. INCLUDING BE SUBJECT TO THE SCREENING POLICY.
"THERE IS NO QUESTION OF A NEW CUT-OFF DATE.'
HE SAID.
"ALL THOSE WHO ARE NOT SCREENED EN AS REFUGEES MUST BE ENDORSED REPATRIATED TO VIETNAM. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS NOW THIS GENERAL PRINCIPLE AND THE ONLY OUTSTANDING ISSUE OF TIMING.'
IS THE MATTER
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