TNAG-1180-FCO40-1482-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-into-the--1982 — Page 51

In a related vein, we urge that the High Commissioner Esist and increase efforts to establish voluntary'

repatriation programs for Kampuchea and Vietnam. While

initial numbers of individuals electing to return

voluntarily may be small, the numbers might grow over time.

We are all aware that resettlement is for many refugees:

not the ideal, or even the best available outcome.

Voluntary repatriation is an alternative for such

individuals A modest but promising program is underway

in Laos, and we judge that efforts to enlarge it are

important.

That program might provide a model for

programs in Kampuchea and Vietnam.

While it has always been clear that all other solutions

should precede resettlement, it also

it also remains evident that

in the near-term even as the scope of the problem

diminishes

resettlement remains the fundamental means

of preserving first asylum for Indochinese

The United

States is willing to continue to play a significant role

in resettlement, but only in the context of continuing

resettlement efforts by the rest of the international

community To put it directly, we are only able to muster

the requisite congressional and public support for resettle-

ment if other countries are seen to be doing their fair

share. The present situation in which 2 out of 3 Indochinese

being resettled are being absorbed by the United States is

clearly not an acceptable apportionment of the burden.