TNAG-0899-FCO40-1109-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 139

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United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations 845 Third Avenue New York NY 10022' •

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Miss F E Elliott

UND

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JYSK OFFICE: INDEX

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ban

12

Your reference

9 November 1979

Our reference

Data

mis Tucker

Mrs Anderson ré

Dear Miss Elyou

THIRD COMMITTEE:

1.

ITEM 83;

REFUGEES

12/1

There have

Please refer to my letter of 8 November. been some further developments. I enclose a copy of the latest Danish draft. The Americans are pressing the Danes to include language on the proposed Fund for Durable Solutions. We are of course not experts on the subject but it seems to us in the Third Committee Nine here that this is premature. There is also the question of the UNHCR getting into areas which are basically related to development rather than relief. I shall take it that you share this view unless I hear to the contrary.

2.

There was some discussion in the Third Committee Nine of the Thai draft which I sent to you. The Netherlands had some critical comments. They object to what they say are implicit political references, eg "at source" in operative paragraph 3. They consider that "earliest oppropriate opportunity" in operative paragraph 6 is too strong. They have in mind the next session of the General Assembly as the appropriate time for a report. They would like to see a reference to the role of NGOs. They also have reservations about the "rights" of emigration and family re-unification in operative paragraph 3. However, the rest of the Nine who spoke tended to feel that the Netherlands' anxieties were excessive.

3. I mentioned that the Singaporeans had approached us with a view to cosponsorship but said that I had no instructions on this point. The FRG said that they had also been approached with a view to cosponsorship and had received discretion to do so from Bonn.

4.

Finally, the Irish Presidency floated the idea of a common statement on this item. Since many of the partners had already drafted their speeches and had points in connexion with the item which they wished to make nationally, this idea was not enthusiastically received. I suggested that a common explanation of vote on the tie resolution might be a possibility. In any case the Irishman is going to try his hand over the weekend at a general common statement. I should be grateful for

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