TNAG-1277-FCO40-1627-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 50

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Statement by the High Commissioner

14. Following last year's break with the previous practice of giving a lengthy tour d'horizon focusing on important current and future issues, the High Commissioner opened ExCom with a forward- looking statement (Annex III) which he hoped would serve as a basis for reflection on several important aspects of his work. He said that UNHCR should place greater emphasis on longer-term planning in

order to achieve a better view of the future. The phenomenon of refugee flows which had gained momentum during the past decade had produced obstacles to finding solutions. These obstacles, whether

technical or political, were often difficult to overcome and as a result there had been a comparative slowdown in the amount of funds allocated within the programme to the pursuit of durable solutions.

This trend should be reversed. Durable solutions were UNHCR's

leitmotiv. They were not cheap. Developing countries had their

constraints and industralised countries their limits. But "the

poorest people were knocking on the poorest countries' doors". Solutions had to be found.

General Debate (Item 4)

15. Nearly all member delegations and several observers spoke under this item. Most supported the High Commissioner's emphasis on durable solutions. Different views were expressed on the

relevance of each of the three different durable solutions but the

majority favoured voluntary repatriation as the most appropriate option. The Djibouti returnee programme was commended and the High Commissioner was asked to play a pivotal role in negotiations between asylum countries and countries of origin in order to create a climate conducive to voluntary return.

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