23
NO. 179
Conclusion
Since 1981, over 500,000 persons have been brought to this
country as refugees to begin new lives. In coordination with
the efforts of state and local governments, civic
organizations, voluntary agencies, and thousands of private
citizens, the administration remains committed to help give
these people a new opportunity to live free from the fear of
persecution.
Yet there have been frustrations and disappointments:
the unfortunate unilateral Vietnamese suspension of
interviews for the UNHCR's Orderly Departure Program, which has
also stalled the President's initiative for Amerasian children;
the continued failure of the Vietnamese to respond to
our initiative to accept re-education camp political prisoners;
the Cuban refusal to implement the Mariel Migration
Agreement;
and the Soviet Union's continued refusal to allow those
wishing to leave to do so, especially Soviet Jews.
Mr. Chairman, I pledge to you that this administration will
never relent in its efforts to resolve these profound
humanitarian issues. With the bipartisan support of Congress,
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