TNAG-1529-FCO40-2093-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 131

humanitarian

activity in itself will go a long

WEY

towards pacifying the behaviour of warring nations and

creating conditions for a renewed dialogue. Over the last

few years, however, it has all too often been the view of

certain

administrations

that

because

humanitarian

interventions will take care of the victims,

situation can be allowed to

degenerate.

the political

This is

illusion.

That in itself makes them responsible

for

the

increasing inability of organisations like UNHCR to fulfil

their protection mandate.

Caught in this dilemma, humanitarian problems are condemned

to become an integral part of the political confrontations

which caused them. To sum up, humanitarian activity must ot

costs be divorced from political bargaining; the real

interests of governments, both now and in the long term,

all

lie

in this."

Let me conclude

by stating that we are keenly aware of the

complexities involved in the search for durable solutions and WE

desire to continue and to intensify in the months to come Our

dialogue with the Thai Government and other concerned governments

to explore all possible options. UNHCR is certainly conscious of

how often in the face of political

realities, desirable

the hope, that dealing

humanitarian solutions are frustrated, but I would add that

must remain committed to the possibility,

with refugees in a humanitarian manner can indeed be a harbinger

for progress on underlying problems which create refugees in

first place.

the

Thank you.