RESTRICTED
116341 MDHOAN 5041
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FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HANOI
TELNO 54
OF 151635Z FEBRUARY 89
MKD 243/9
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
AND TO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
(40)
YOUR TELNO 74: VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE
1. YOU SPOKE WELL. BUT VIETNAMESE ATTEMPTS TO DISTANCE THEM- SELVES FROM THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION IS WORRYING. GILLMORE THEREFORE TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY OF A CALL BY THE VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR ON 14 FEBRUARY TO STRESS THAT THE RETURN OF THE VOLUNTEERS WAS ONLY THE START OF A PROCESS AND WE HOPED THAT MANY MORE WOULD COME FORWARD. THERE SHOULD BE NO MISUNDERSTANDING AND NO BACKING AWAY FROM THE POSITION REACHED IN OCTOBER THAT THE BROADER PROBLEM OF REPATRIATING ALL- NON-REFUGEES WOULD HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED IN DUE COURSE. WE REALISED THAT THIS POSED CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES. BUT COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD REMAIN THE OBJECTIVE FOR BOTH SIDES.
2.
HUNG UNDERTOOK TO REPORT. HE ADDED
THAT A NUMBER OF ISSUES WERE INVOLVED INCLUDING THE DEFINITION OF A REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ASPECT OF INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. THE VIETNAMESE WOULD ADDRESS THEM AT THE PREPCON IN KUALA LUMPUR.
COMMENT.
3. IT WILL BE DISTINCTLY UNHELPFUL IF THE VIETNAMESE OPENING POSITION AT THE PREPCON IS A FLAT REJECTION, OF
INVOLUNTARY REPATRIATION. GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF YOU WOULD TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH HOW THEY PROPOSE TO APPROACH THIS PROBLEM, INCLUDING ANY SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS THEY MAY HAVE IN MIND FOR THE DRAFT PLAN OF ACTION. YOU SHOULD REMIND THEM OF THEIR DESIRE FOR COOPERATION AND DIALOGUE. THIS WILL REQUIRE FLEXIBILITY ON BOTH SIDES. NOBODY'S INTERESTS WOULD BE SERVED BY A PUBLIC
SHOW-DOWN IN KUALA LUMPUR.
HOWE
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