Looking towards the future, it can be anticipated that
programs for direct legal departure and repatriation will
eventually be able to take place within the context of normalized
diplomatic relations between the countries concerned. As such,
these would be functions of regular consular and immigration
procedures and controls. Such an arrangement would also permit
more adequate international monitoring of country conditions and
events, and would make possible the guarantees needed to ensure
that safe and orderly departure and return are respected as basic
rights of citizens.
asylum.
At the heart of the matter lies the challenge to find
effective ways to address the root causes of mass exodus, while
more firmly establishing an international consensus regarding
responsibilities for protection and assistance to persons seeking
Significantly, the present dialogue in preparation for
the international conference is based on recognition of the
necessity for close cooperation between all of the concerned
parties countries of asylum, donor and resettlement countries,
and countries of origin in order to achieve truly durable
solutions to this enduring crisis.
Key to future progress in addressing refugee issues in
Southeast Asia must be a "de-linking" of the provision of
temporary (or "first") asylum from a pre-requisite commitment by
countries outside the region to the large scale resettlement of
asylum seekers. While a comprehensive solution to the refugee
problem necessitates substantial "burden-sharing" by the
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