CONFIDENTIAL
107447 MDHIAN 4248
MARCH-APRIL 1989
GENEVA
M
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON
INDOCHINESE REFUGEES AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL (PREFERABLY 2ND OR 3RD WEEK OF APRIL).
3. UNHCR RAISED THE QUESTION OF TIMING FOR INCLUSION OF THE VIETNAMESE, AND THE LAO. THEIR PREFERENCE WAS FOR A THIRD STAGE
TO THE OCTOBER MEETING AT WHICH THE VIETNAMESE WOULD JOIN DISCUSSIONS
·
THIS PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTABLE TO THE ASEAN DELEGATES PRESENT AT THE MEETING, BUT THEY RESERVED THEIR POSITION TO TAKE INSTRUCTIONS, THERE WAS A GENERAL CONSENSUS ON THE PART OF ICG REPRESENTATIVES THAT A COMMON POSITION WAS NEEDED BEFORE
VIETNAMESE JOIN THE PREPARATORY PROCESS.
4. ASEAN PRESENTED A LIST OF EIGHT ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION WHICH MIGHT FOR THE BASIS OF THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
THE ISSUES WERE:
(1)
FIRST ASYLUM
(2)
SCREENING
(3)
REGIONAL HOLDING CENTRE
(4)
RESETTLEMENT
(5) REPATRIATION
(6)
(7)
REINTEGRATION ASSISTANCE
EXPANSION OF ODP
(8) ILLEGAL DEPARTURES.
THE AMERICANS AND UNHCR COMPLIMENTED ASEAN ON THE LIST, AND COMMENTED THAT THE FIRST FOUR ISSUES WERE FOR DISCUSSION AT THE EXPANDED WORKING GROUP MEETING BEFORE VIETNAMESE PARTICIPATION. THE LAST FOUR ISSUES WERE SUITABLE FOR DISCUSSION AT A FURTHER EXPANDED MEETING IN WHICH THE VIETNAMESE WOULD PARTICIPATE.
5. THE ASEAN ALSO INTRODUCTED TWO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS: ONE FOR UHNCR EXCOM IN OCTOBER AND THE OTHER FOR UNGA IN NOVEMBER (COPIES
FOLLOW BY BAG). THEY SOUGHT OUR SUPPORT FOR INTORDUCTION OF THESE TWO RESOLUTIONS. ALL ICG REPRESENTATIVES RESERVED THEIR POSITION
AND UNDERTOOK TO SEEK INSTRUCTIONS FROM CAPITALS. ASEAN WILL BE LOOKING FOR DECISION AND COMMENT ON THE UNGA RESOLUTION AT THE NEXT WORKING GROUP MEETING ON 27/28 OCTOBER, AND HOPING FOR SUPPORT FOR
THEIR UHNCR DRAFT AT EXCOM NEXT MONTH.
6.
OTHER SUBJECTS DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING WERE: FINANCE, PARTICIPATION AND TITLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE.
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