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preceding six years,
combined with lower levels of resettlement have reawakened fears that countries of first asylum would be left with large, unassimilable refugee populations. The recognition that resettlement in and of itself can encourage larger refugee flows has contributed to a reduced confidence in dependence upon resettlement on the part of both countries of first asylum and countries of resettlement.
With the increased flows and the effectiveness of resettlement in question, the decade-long, consensus that sustained generous first asylum in Southeast Asia is now in jeopardy, and questions are raised about the adequacy of the various programs which we have been relying on for nearly a decade to meet current problems. We must examine new policy combinations and directions to prevent more tragedies from occurring and to sustain first asylum throughout the region.
The U.S. Government is eager to develop, with others, a comprehensive approach for dealing realistically with the current distressing complexities in Southeast Asia. We need to refine a dynamic long-term strategy of inter-related components and find the collective political will, patience and steadfastness to pursue it, because sadly there is no simple or quick fix.
Our basic course is to employ policies to discourage clandestine departures from Vietnam and to maintain resettlement offtake of eligible groups in order to keep to tolerable levels the total first asylum population until changes in regional security and stability take place enabling repatriation and a natural reduction in outflows.
In this context, the following issues must be addressed:
the maintenance of first asylum,
the root causes of the outflow of asylum seekers,
new measures of humane deterrence,
resettlement,
the Orderly Departure Program,
voluntary repatriation,
long-stayers, and
care and protection of the displaced Khmer.
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Let me be clear at the outset that the preservation of first asylum for refugees including their care and humane treatment remains our foremost concern, our first principle. Its future will require the creative energy of the various parties members of the international community to explore alternatives which can achieve a delicate balance between protecting humanitarian principles and providing relief for first asylum nations.
As we all recognize, the dire refugee problems of the region are rooted hot in the first asylum countries, but in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, and this is where they must ultimately
solved. Concerted diplomatic
diplomatic effort
be
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