Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, March 31 (VNA) -- Problems related to Central Highlands ethnic minority people now living temporarily in camps in Cambodia should be settled immediately on the humanitarian basis, not be politicized to harm Viet Nam and Cambodia's security, has said a Spokeswoman of the Foreign Ministry of Viet Nam.

The following is statement from Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Phan Thuy Thanh on March, 31, 2002:

1. Recently, Vietnam, Cambodia and the UNHCR have signed and enforced a tripartite agreement on repatriating the Central Highland ethnic illegal border crossers to Cambodia and recorded some results in its implementation. In the process of settling this humanitarian issue Vietnam has always demonstrated goodwill, cooperated with the parties concerned and fulfilled its responsibilities. However, this process has been obstructed by those who lack goodwill. Therefore, only a small number of people have been repatriated under the tripartite agreement. The remaining people in makeshift camps in Cambodia have to subsist under extremely difficult circumstances. Therefore, many people who could not stand this left the camps on their own to return to Vietnam. They were received and helped by local authorities and people and were soon able to stabilize their life and reintegrate into their home communities.

2. Prompted by a policy of humanitarianism and state responsibility over its own citizens, the Government of Vietnam has done everything possible to facilitate an early repatriation for these people. However, the UNHCR's unilateral suspension of the tripartite agreement made it impossible to repatriate those wishing to return. This compelled those living in makeshift camps to continue their hardship and privations, which are likely to be protracted, especially when the rainy season is approaching. On the other hand, this situation has also caused many difficulties to the Cambodia side.

3. Given this situation, Vietnam has conducted exchanges of ideas and agreed with Cambodia that there should be an early solution to categorically settle the issue of those people who are currently subsisting in Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri as a particular case, whereby repatriation arrangements should be made immediately for those wishing to return to Vietnam under the cooperation between Vietnam, Cambodia and the UNHCR. For those who wish to resettle in a third country the resettlement process should be conducted according to procedures and processes that were followed by the UNHCR, the countries concerned and Vietnam in the past.

Vietnam is of the view that this issue should be soon settled in the spirit of humanitarianism, not be politicized and its settlement should not be used to undermine security and interests of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Hanoi, 31 March 2002