TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 131

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Voluntary repatriation and UNHCR involvement in implementing

programs of voluntary return can be the target of criticism from

well-meaning but misinformed groups opposed to the return of refugees to

their country of origin under any circumstances. It is only too easy for

such groups to label as "refoulement" programs of voluntary repatriation

carefully negotiated by UNHCR over a period of months or years and

containing the most stringent guarantees for the well-being of those

voluntarily returning. The solution is international supervision

to ensure that repatriation is, in every real sense, voluntary and

Ghere elements follow-up monitoring, which should remain the minimum pre-conditions to

international sanction of these initiatives.

A strong and recurring theme of many interventions at this

year's Executive Committee meeting has been that the High Commissioner's

efforts towards durable solutions must be complemented by the political will

of countries, especially those involved in the problem, to tackle root

causes.

Strikingly, that point has been made by source,

Kingel

receiving, donor

and resettlement countries.

mo Scirwin we must are ourréives

блийни ча

What can be done when perceived national self-interest of a

strategic, military, political or even economic character does not appear

fully to be compatible with the High Commissioner's aim of a durable

solution or strategies for a particular refugee group?

A first challenge is to re-examine continually, national

policies so as to determine how much and in what ways the humanitarian

interests of displaced people can be separated and isolated from conflicts

or antagonisms in which these people may be unwittingly involved.