CONFIDENTIAL
6-0.HL7490
SETTLEMENT JUDGMENTS, AND THE ACCUMULATION OF NON-SETTLED GROUPS IN THE CAMPS. ALL OF THESE DEPEND UPON INDIRECT COMMUNICATION BACK TO THE PLACES WHERE THE REFUGEES AND OTHER FUGITIVES ORIGINATE.
WE SHOULD PERHAPS ENCOURAGE REALISTIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF
RESETTLEMENT.
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I THINK THE DESIRABLE OPTION IS FOR AS MANY COUNTRIES AS POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE WITH A LONG TERM BUT REDUCING RATE OF INTAKE FROM FIRST REFUGE NATIONS.
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SUCH AN APPROACH WOULD SIGNAL OUR WILLINGNESS TO RESPOND TO GENUINE HUMANITARIAN CIRCUMSTANCES BUT AT THE SAME TIME INDICATE QUR OPPOSITION TO 'DE FACTO MIGRATION PROGRAMS OPERATING UNDER THE GUISE OF REFUGEE POLICIES. HOPEFULLY THE OVERALL RATE OF OUTFLOW FROM VIETNAM, LAOS, AND KAMPUCHEA WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE. IF THIS CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE, THEN ULTIMATE SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON A BROAD INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE WITHOUT PLACING THE BURDEN ON ANYONE OR SEVERAL NATIONS.
EVEN SO, THERE REMAINS THE NON-RESETTLED GROUPS IN THE CAMPS --THE LONG STAYERS' THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPLEX QUESTIONS ADDRESSING US, AND ONE WHICH REQUIRES THE MOST FINE-TUNING. THE IMPORTANT QUESTION --ONE WHICH I KNOW WILL BE DISCUSSED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS--IS IF AND WHEN WE SHOULD MAKE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO RESETTLE THESE GROUPS. CAN IT BE DONE WITHOUT STIMULATING A FURTHER MASS EXODUS FROM INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES? THE CLARIFICATION OF, THESE QUESTIONS WILL REFLECT SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE EXPECTATIONS OF THOSE PEOPLE STILL IN INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES.
MR CHAIRMAN, FELLOW MINISTERS AND DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES, I WILL NOW BRIEFLY SUMMARISE THOSE OBJECTIVES WHICH THE AUSTRALIAN LÁBOR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES TO BE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE IN ACHIEVING OUR AIMS IN THIS AREA:
WE MUST PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON ENCOURAGING POLITICAL SOLUTIONS IN COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
WE MUST CONTINUE TO EMPHASISE NON-RESETTLEMENT SOLUTIONS SUCH AS VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION AND LOCAL INTEGRATION. IN THE CONTEXT OF BOTH BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS
WE MUST MAINTAIN POLICIES DESIGNED TO DETER OUTFLOWS OF NON-REFUGEES
WE MUST ENCOURAGE COUNTRIES OF FIRST ASYLUM TO CONTINUE TO GIVE SANCTUARY TO REFUGEES
WE MUST AVOID RESETTLEMENT ACTION, SUCH AS THE RESETTLEMENT OF PERSONS WITH DUBIOUS CLAIMS TO REFUGEE STATUS, WHICH COULD UNDERMINE DETERRENT POLICIES
WE MUST ENSURE BROAD INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT .
WE SHOULD AVOID ANY ATTEMPT TO, RESOLVE THE 'LONG STAYER' PROBLEM BY WAY OF RESETTLEMENT UNTIL:
THE OUTFLOW HAS BEEN REDUCED TO A MORE MANAGEABLE LEVEL, AND IT IS CLEAR THAT SUCH ACTION WILL NOT PRECIPITATE A FRESH OUTFLOW
IT IS CLEAR THAT VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION IS NOT A-:
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CONFIDENTIAL!
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