ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT BY MR. LE DZUNG, THE SPOKESMAN

OF THE VIETNAMESE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON 24^th JULY 2004

Vietnam News Agency: What is Vietnam’s reaction to recent activities by the UNHCR relating to the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands that have illegally crossed the border into Cambodia?

Answer:

Despite Vietnamese concerned authorities’ repeated caution and criticism, in recent days, the UNHCR has continued carrying out many wrongful activities to induce the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands to illegally cross the border into Cambodia, and even consider granting “political refugee” status to these people pending agreement with the Cambodian Government on the opening of two UNHCR offices in Cambodia’s two border provinces or these offices’ operation regulations.

As we have many times stated clearly, those crossing the border into Cambodia are only illegal border-crossers. They are in no way political refugees. The UNHCR’s act is wrongful and it only serves the scheme of some hostile elements against Vietnam, inciting those who are leading a peaceful and stable life in the Central Highlands to illegally cross the border to Cambodia, causing instability in the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and violating Cambodia’s sovereignty.

Vietnam highly values and supports recent statements by Prime Minister of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia Hun Sen on the way to solve the issue of the ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands who have illegally crossed the border to Cambodia. Accordingly, all those Vietnamese ethnic minority people who have illegally crossed the border to Cambodia will be interviewed by Cambodia. Who volunteers to come back to Vietnam will be allowed to return. Who wishes to settle down in a third country and is accepted by that country will be allowed to leave for that country. Who is not accepted by a third country within one month will be forced to return to Vietnam. Prime Minister Hun Sen also confirmed that he does not allow Cambodian territory to turn into a refugee camp.

We have repeatedly affirmed that, the Vietnamese Government will not prosecute, punish or discriminate against those ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands who have illegally crossed the border to Cambodia but now volunteer to repatriate for their past activities. Those voluntary repatriates will be provided with favorable conditions to soon stabilize their life and integrate into the community.