Speech #960244238

I would like to commend Ambassador Palmieri for bringing this problem forcefully to the attention of the member governments of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration. at the executive committee meeting which just ended in Geneva. That his appeal was heard can be confirmed by the following statement made by the chairman of the executive committee at the close of the executive committee meeting: We also heard with interest and sympathy the statement and appeal of the Ambassador from the United States. I believe it is the sentiment of the executive committee to endorse that appeal and to acknowledge that the current outflow of Cubans to the United States seeking asylum is of concern to the international community. It would therefore be appropriate for the ICEM director to take all possible measures with interested governments to generate further resettlement opportunities and the necessary funding to carry out such an international resettlement operation. The Director in turn agreed to call on governments to respond positively.