TNAG-1800-FCO40-2560-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-principle-of-first-asylum-1988 — Page 132

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There must also be measures to deal with the problem of longstaying populations. Its solution will be the collective responsibility of the international community, through UNHCR. Especially creative, cooperative and generous efforts will be necessary to deal with this dilemma.

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Finally, the humanitarian needs of the almost 300,000 displaced Khmer along the Thai-Cambodian border must be an integral part of our comprehensive strategy. Merely because this population exists under special circumstances and arrangements and is not calculated in refugee inflow and offtake statistics is no reason for it not to receive continued priority attention. The care and protection of the border Khmer is not yet adequate, although dedicated efforts continue and promising improvements are pending. The humanitarian commitment here is imperative.

I have counselled patience and steadfastness, not in the sense of endless perseverence, but with the confidence that, over time, things will change. We have come a long way. Conditions have been much worse, and we have many extraordinary accomplishments behind us to be proud of. Now we have to come the rest of the way together. Collectively, we must encourage the resolution of the Cambodian agony and the adoption by the government of Vietnam of policies that do not repel its citi- zens. All interested parties must recognize that long-term resolution of the refugee problem depends upon progress in Indochina in reaching a new stage of normality and stability which would permit an effective program of repatriation, an international share-out of the residual long-stayer population, and the return of the Khmer to their homeland. Our policies until then must both encourage such conditions and make interim progress until they are achieved.

In closing, let me reiterate that the United States Government remains firmly committed to resolving the Indochinese refugee problem. What Secretary of State Shultz told the ASEAN nations last June remains true now: