RESTRICTED
14
027474 MDHIAN 0410
RESTRICTED
FM UKMIS GENEVA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 44
OF 231556Z JAN 91
HKA 020/14
Pa
Ime
INFO PRIORITY HANOI, HONG KONG, UKREP BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON, TOKYO
13
MY TELNO 17 (NOT TO TOKYO): VIETNAMESE MIGRANTS
SUMMARY
UNHCR RESPOND POSITIVELY ON LUMP SUM PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTEER RETURNEES AND ON SWITCHING PAYMENTS FOR ORP II RETURNEES FROM INDIVIDUALS TO VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES. HAPPY TO PHASE OUT DIRECT PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTEERS, SUBJECT TO FURTHER DISCUSION ON TIMING.
2.
1992 FUNDING SITUATION CRITICAL. WITHOUT IMMEDIATE DONOR PLEDGES ALL UNHCR PAYMENTS TO VIETNAM WILL STOP. UK URGED TO RESPOND QUICKLY AT LEAST WITH PLEDGE.
DETAIL
3. WE CALLED ON ANVAR (UNHCR) AND HIS ASIA BUREAU TEAM ON 23 JANUARY TO DISCUSS THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS IN TUR ON REPACKAGING UNHCR ASSISTANCE. ANVAR SAID THAT MRS OGATA HAD FOUND HER RECENT TALKS WITH LORD CAITHNESS EXTREMELY USEFUL AND LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE DIALOGUE IN GENEVA NEXT MONTH.
4.
ANVAR SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN PRINCIPLE WITH MOUCHET'S RECOMMENDATION THAT THE USD 360 DOLLARS FOR VOLUNTEERS BE PAID IN ONE LUMP SUM TO THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR. ADMINISTRATIVELY IT WOULD MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR UNHCR AND COULD BE IMPLEMENTED STRAIGHT AWAY PROVIDED THERE WAS FUNDING (SEE BELOW). IT WOULD BE UP TO THE VIETNAMESE HOW QUICKLY THEY PAID OVER THE MONEY TO THE RETURNEES, PREFERABLY AVOIDING THE RISKS OF INDIVIDUALS BLOWING A LUMP SUM OR CAUSING EXCESSIVE RESENTMENT AMONG THEIR NEIGHBOURS BY THEIR SUDDEN ENRICHMENT.
5.
ANVAR CONFIRMED UNHCR'S WILLINGNESS TO HAVE REINTEGRATION PAYMENTS FOR ORP II INVOLUNTARY RETURNEES PAID DIRECT TO THE VIETNAMESE AUTHORITIES AND NOT TO INDIVIDUALS.
THEY AGREED THAT
THIS WOULD BE A POWERFUL INCENTIVE TO VOLUNTEER. ORP II INVOLUNTARY RETURNEES WOULD THEN ONLY GET AN INDIVIDUAL PAYMENT OF
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