TNAG-1542-FCO40-2106-United-Nations-High-Commissioner-for-Refugees-(UNHCR)-Execut-1986 — Page 64

3(b) DURABLE SOLUTIONS

LINE TO TAKE

CONFIDENTIAL

1

(VOLUNTARY REPATRIATION, LOCAL INTEGRATION,

RESETTLEMENT, OTHERS?)

Home office Contribution.

The United Kingdom takes the view that the correct order of priorities is

as indicated in the title. Resettlement outside the region should only be

considered as a last resort. Developed Western States, including the

United Kingdom have been engaged in discussions with UNHCR on the

possibility of stemming the irregular flow of Third World asylum seekers.

All accept that part of the price that might have to be paid is further

financial support in States neighbouring those which produce a flow of

asylum-seekers and that, overall there may need to be some formalisation of

movement of identified refugees to States of ultimate resettlement.

Repatriation, which might also involve additional cost and which must be

voluntary, presents the most desirable option of all and we look to UNHCR

to act as an effective intermediary in such approaches to this end as are

possible.

BACKGROUND

Developed States are becoming increasingly concerned at the increase in

numbers of asylum seekers, many of whom ultimately fail to qualify for

recognition as refugees, arriving from the Third World; Denmark has Jeen

an increase in caseload of nearly 3,000% in the past three years and has

publicly stated that the system can receive no more, and the Federal Republic anticipates a year-end figure of over 100,000 applications in 1986. The

United Kingdom's insular situation has saved us from the worst effects of

this movement but our position, both as to intake of cases and the pressure

on the asylum procedure, is noticeably worse than in earlier years. It

is, accordingly, not surprising. that receiving States look to alternatives

to resettlement as solutions to the worldwide refugee problem. In the absence of acceptable solutions, the proliferation of visa regimes, sanctions against carriers and the more strict application of refugee criteria all

decried by UNHCR seem inevitable and will quite clearly continue to be

applied. Viewed in the long term, aid to local resettlement and voluntary

repatriation are economically more sound than permanent resettlement

outside the area of origin.

A

CONFIDENTIAL