General Assembly Session 61 meeting 6

The President

The General Assembly, pursuant to resolution 60/227 of 23 December 2005, will continue the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.

Before we continue with the list of speakers, I would like to inform members that we will first hear the summaries of the deliberations of the four round-table sessions by the Chairpersons of the respective round tables.

I give the floor to the Chairperson of round table 1, Her Excellency Ms. Tarja Filatov, Minister of Labour of Finland.

Ms. Filatov (Finland)

I am summarizing today the main points from the debate that took place in round table 1, dealing with the effects of international migration on economic and social development.

I would like to emphasize the excellent and constructive spirit of our discussions. The discussions in this round table centred on five key points.

First, the round table underscored the substantial positive impacts of international migration on social and economic development, while noting certain negative impacts as well. There was general agreement that the importance of international migration will increase in future and that it was therefore crucial for the international community and for Member States to focus on maximizing its benefits while minimizing the risks associated with it. To do so, coherent policies were needed, both within and among countries.

We noted that countries often play multiple roles, so it was therefore not useful to distinguish between countries of origin, destination or transit. We noted also that migrants themselves, by creating social ties and transnational networks, were a key part of the migration process and its impact on development.

Secondly, labour migration was central to the discussion of migration and development in terms of both the motivation for international movements and their consequences for development. The discussion focused in particular on the economic benefits, which would increase if the labour market functioned more efficiently.

Issues such as decent work and migrants' rights were also underlined in this context. Certain detrimental consequences were noted as well, particularly those due to the loss of highly skilled workers in many developing countries.

These effects of the brain drain were most severe in the health and education sectors, leading to a decrease in the quality of those services. In some countries, the emigration of skilled personnel has been eroding human capital, with potentially dire consequences for the long-term sustainability of those countries' development. Even though many interventions concentrated on economic aspects, it was recalled that social and cultural aspects are equally important.

Thirdly, we discussed various approaches for eliminating some of the negative consequences of migration and enhancing its positive role in development. In that context, the importance of recurrent and circular migration was underscored, since migrants who return -- even for short periods -- are often agents for development. Highly skilled returning migrants have much to contribute to promote the economic dynamism and development of countries of origin.

Participants considered various ways in which permanent or temporary return can be promoted. Thus, Governments were encouraged to cooperate with the private sector in establishing reintegration programmes and promoting, among other things, increased employment and investment opportunities for returning migrants.

It was acknowledged that transnational diaspora communities can make important contributions to the development of countries of origin. We recognized the need to foster contacts between countries and their citizens abroad, especially with those who are highly skilled, or who possess skills in short supply in their countries of origin, so as to facilitate the emergence of more active knowledge networking. The important role played by remittances in supporting well-being was also cited by several participants. However, it was emphasized that not only economic remittances, but also the transfer of knowledge and innovation, can play a major role.

Fourthly, several participants commented on the need for greater collaboration between countries of origin and countries of destination to enhance the portability of pension benefits and to ensure that migrants are not penalized for working throughout their productive lives in more than one country. A related point was the desirability of single taxation arrangements. Many participants stressed that remittances should not be taxed twice.

Fifthly, participants emphasized the importance of creating desirable living and working conditions in countries of origin so that migration is truly a choice, not a necessity. The importance of migration policies, international development policies and poverty reduction strategies was mentioned frequently. Key factors in that regard include, inter alia, the promotion of good governance, the protection of human rights and the improvement of labour market conditions in societies of origin. Greater emphasis on capacity-building is needed.

Lastly, it was noted that intergovernmental cooperation, whether at the bilateral, regional or global level, is important to support many of the processes that increase the economic and social benefits of international migration. Governments were urged to find ways to enhance such cooperation.

The President

I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Margarita Escóbar, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador, who will report to the Assembly on behalf of the Chairman of round table 2.

Ms. Escóbar (El Salvador)

I shall read out the following summary on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Francisco Laínez, Minister for Foreign Affairs of El Salvador.

"I have the honour to summarize the excellent debate that took place in round table 2, which focused on measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of all migrants and to prevent and combat the smuggling of migrants and the trafficking in persons.

"The discussion in our round table was lively and enriching, enjoying broad participation by Member States, United Nations entities and representatives of civil society. We also benefited from the participation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Louise Arbour. It is thus with great pleasure that I will share with the Assembly some of the key insights that emerged from the discussions.

"There was agreement that migrants were, above all, human beings endowed with fundamental and inalienable rights. Human rights should be considered part of the necessary foundation linking international migration to development, since, as participants stressed, it was only when the human rights of migrants are recognized and safeguarded that the positive contributions to countries of origin and destination could be fully realized.

"It was emphasized that all States -- whether they be points of origin, transit or destination for migrants -- had the obligation to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of all migrants, irrespective of their status. Of particular relevance was the protection of the rights and freedoms of groups that are more vulnerable to exploitation, such as children, young people, women, indigenous people, persons with disabilities and migrants in irregular situations.

"The importance of social, economic and cultural rights was stressed, especially as their observance underpinned the successful integration of migrants into host societies. There was agreement that it was paramount to eliminate all forms of discrimination and to combat xenophobia and racism. The Governments of receiving countries had the responsibility to oppose discriminatory, racist or xenophobic attitudes and to promote respect and tolerance.

"Member States were urged to ratify all core human rights instruments, in particular the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. It was noted that that Convention reiterated many of the obligations to which States were already bound because they were parties to the other core human rights instruments. Member States were also urged to become parties to all relevant International Labour Organization and United Nations conventions and to ensure their full implementation.

"It was stressed that national legislation on international migration should reflect internationally agreed human rights standards. Trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants were recognized as major challenges facing the international community today. Intergovernmental cooperation and coordination were judged to be essential in effectively combating those crimes. Member States were urged to cooperate more actively to prevent those crimes and to bring perpetrators to justice.

"It was emphasized that trafficked persons were victims and that they were entitled to protection and assistance. Several Member States gave examples of good practices, including media campaigns to warn potential migrants about the dangers involved in trying to cross borders irregularly or about the ploys traffickers use to ensnare victims. Another good practice was granting permission to stay to victims of trafficking.

"It was emphasized that the ratification and implementation of United Nations instruments regarding trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants was essential, especially as they provided a framework for international cooperation in those matters.

"While trafficking and smuggling were crimes, migration was not, and should not be criminalized. Participants urged Governments to protect the victims of trafficking in persons, in particular by safeguarding their human rights. Some participants argued that restrictive migration policies were at the root of increased irregular migration and that they made people more vulnerable to falling prey to traffickers.

"Noting the increased feminization of migration, particularly labour migration, the need for a gender-sensitive approach in formulating international migration policies was underscored. It was stressed that, in many circumstances, female migrants, particularly those working in poorly regulated sectors, such as domestic service, were more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse than male migrants. It was therefore urgent to take effective measures to protect the rights of female migrants, irrespective of their occupation or migration status.

"Lastly, several delegations expressed satisfaction with the opportunity afforded by the High-level Dialogue to discuss the issues of international migration, development and human rights, and supported the Secretary-General's proposal to establish a forum to follow up on the discussions that had taken place at the High-level Dialogue."

The President

I now give the floor to the Chairman of round table 3, His Excellency Mr. Kastriot Sulka, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Equal Opportunities of Albania.

Mr. Sulka (Albania)

I have the pleasure to present a summary of the fruitful debate which took place in round table 3, which focused on the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development, including remittances.

The round table, which benefited from the active participation of representatives of Member States, United Nations entities and civil society, discussed the various aspects of international migration with a view to finding ways of enhancing its benefits for development. Appreciation was expressed for the substantive support for the round table provided by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. José Antonio Ocampo. I will now highlight some of the main conclusions of the round table.

It was recognized that, in order for international migration to benefit development and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, it was necessary to capitalize on the skills acquired by migrants while abroad. It was also necessary to reduce the transfer costs of remittances and to strengthen the benefits brought about by such transfers by, among other things, increasing the capacity for productive investment and improving access to financial services in countries of origin, particularly in rural areas.

The potential of remittances to reduce poverty was underscored, and participants focused on strategies to maximize their development potential. However, some of them warned that remittances could create dependency among recipients. The importance of finding ways to reconcile the positive effects of remittances on poverty reduction with their possible negative impact was underscored. Participants also stressed that remittances were private funds that primarily benefited the families that received them and should not be viewed as a substitute for official development assistance.

There was consensus on the need to reduce the transaction costs of remittances, since such lower transfer costs could significantly contribute to increasing the funds that actually reach the families of migrants. Participants called on countries of origin to take a pro-active approach to enhancing the development impact of migrant contributions and savings, particularly by collaborating with the private sector to widen access by migrants and their families to financial institutions, including micro-credit institutions.

Civil society organizations, including migrant associations, could play an important role by providing financial counselling to migrant families and by advising and supporting them in the area of entrepreneurship. Access to such support was a means of leveraging the benefits of remittances for development. Coordinating measures to support or promote entrepreneurship in countries of origin were thought to be useful.

The involvement of transnational communities in fostering the development of countries of origin was thought both desirable and essential to maximize the benefits of international migration. Participants acknowledged the positive contribution of transnational communities and networks to the development of communities of both destination and origin. It was recognized that the establishment of knowledge-sharing networks involving members of migrant communities could benefit countries of origin.

A number of participants called for further initiatives to explore policy solutions that would facilitate the reintegration of migrants upon return to their countries of origin. The issue of ensuring the portability of pensions and access to social services was also raised. Many participants felt that the returning migrant could be an agent of development, provided that policies in the countries of origin facilitated the transfer of funds, access to loans and the setting up of small businesses.

The President

The summary of the discussions in round table 4 will be presented at a later stage.

Before giving the floor to the first speaker in the debate for this afternoon, I would like to inform members that there are still 59 speakers remaining to be heard. As I mentioned yesterday, we have to conclude the High-level Dialogue at the end of this meeting. I therefore appeal again to members to make their statements as concise as possible by summarizing them and circulating the full text.

I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Hassan Muhammad Lawal, Minister for Labour and Productivity of Nigeria.

Mr. Lawal (Nigeria)

We would like to congratulate you, Madam, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session and to assure you of our readiness to cooperate with you to make your tenure a success. We would also like to thank the Secretary-General and his staff for the elaborate report (A/60/871) prepared for our deliberations. Nigeria aligns itself with the statement made by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

International migration is an age-old phenomenon which, over the ages, has seen people of all colours and creeds move around the world for various reasons. Without a doubt, migration has enormous benefits and can be a potent force for development. But its challenges are equally enormous. Against this background, Nigeria is convinced that better-managed migration can bring win-win benefits to all countries.

The asymmetries in the material wealth of countries and the demand for cheap labour in industrialized countries, coupled with unemployment and poverty, are some of the factors that propel international migration.

While each country has the right to determine its migration policies, the exploitation, maltreatment, forceful repatriation and other dehumanizing treatment of migrants who are asylum-seekers -- including their placement in concentration-style camps -- prevalent in some countries as measures to manage migration are indefensible in the twenty-first century. The international community must therefore resist the temptation to build thick walls of exclusion or resort to xenophobia or other forms of discrimination under the pretext of measures to ensure national security.

Rather, we should work collectively to find practicable and dignifying solutions to the problems associated with migration. Nigeria is particularly concerned about the degrading treatment of migrants, in particular those who belong to vulnerable groups, and calls on States to fulfil their labour and human rights obligations to migrants, for that is the essence of development, as all people aspire to better standards of life in greater freedom.

In Nigeria's view, specific policy measures to consider in this Dialogue should include capacity-building, especially in African countries; the mobilization of national populations in the diaspora; the cheaper, safer and faster transfer of remittances; the sharing of more information on remittances; and the integration of migration issues into national development strategies. Other measures that need to be put in place to support the achievement of national development strategies include the speedy conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda, the resolution of the external debt crisis, the provision of new and additional resources, global cooperation to fight corruption and terrorism and a greater voice and participation for developing countries in decision-making in international financial and trading institutions.

In Nigeria, we have adopted a National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy as a framework to eradicate poverty, promote wealth creation and guarantee lasting prosperity for all Nigerians. Furthermore, Nigeria is working vigorously to achieve the goals and targets set out in the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

Cognizant of the importance of migration, the Government has established institutions to deal with the phenomenon, while three Special Assistants have been appointed to advise the President on diaspora matters, human trafficking and child labour, as well as on migration and humanitarian affairs.

Nigeria supports the proposal of the Secretary-General to establish a consultative forum to complement coherent and well-coordinated migration strategies at all levels. We believe that the forum would provide a venue for States and other relevant stakeholders to continue the dialogue on migration in the absence of institutional arrangements within the United Nations system. Nigeria looks forward to the first meeting of the forum. Nigeria appreciates and commends the role of the International Labour Organization in providing an international standard for the protection of migrants. We also commend the International Organization for Migration for having raised awareness of the positive role that international migration and migrants can play in the economic, social and cultural development of countries. Finally, we call for more international cooperation on migration management.

The President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Walter Fust, Director-General of the Swiss Development Corporation of Switzerland.

Mr. Fust (Switzerland)

Migration is something that has always existed; it will continue to bring States together as we endeavour to manage it and to prevent illegal or undesirable forms of the phenomenon. We believe, therefore, that our efforts should result in the creation of a true partnership among States, international organizations and civil society, so that we are able to manage migration in a manner that is equitable, fair and transparent, in a spirit of mutual responsibility. In that context, we must first and foremost analyse the true causes of migration, inter alia, poverty, lack of prospects for the future, poor governance, insecurity, the violation of human rights and armed conflict.

We urgently need to develop instruments to enable us to maximize the positive effects of migration while minimizing the negative effects. Such considerations inspired Switzerland to launch the Berne Initiative, a process aimed at the development of an international agenda for migration management. As a process, the Berne Initiative enables Governments from all regions to share their various policy priorities, as well as to set out their long-term interests in the domain of migration, with a view to arriving at a common approach based on cooperation, comprehensiveness, balance and predictability.

The report of the Global Commission on International Migration, published in October 2005, clearly set out the ideal situation: migration should be a matter of choice, not of necessity. Indeed, there are far too many men and women who leave their homes and families as a result of circumstances that they cannot control.

We have a duty to pay more attention to the causes of migration and to prevention. In order to do so, we must together focus on instruments geared towards improving living conditions in countries of origin. Switzerland is committed to that goal and intends, at the international level, to pursue its commitment to fostering human security, promoting peace and enhancing respect for international law and human rights. Similarly, Switzerland's cooperation is strategically oriented towards obtaining results that contribute to the stabilization of political, economic and social situations in countries of origin.

Development cooperation projects must do more to create a sufficient number of stable employment opportunities in developing countries, while emphasizing the great importance of savings and credit schemes. In addition, experience has taught us that the entrepreneurial capacity of women has been vastly underestimated. It is evident that we are dealing here with something that has enormous potential for promoting local economies in a sustainable manner.

Another approach to be further explored is the possibility of exploiting the synergies between migration and development. The remittances that migrants send back to their countries of origin amount to close to $200 billion per year, including transfers between industrialized countries. Notwithstanding the fact that these are, indeed, private funds, we can and should seek out the potential synergies between these major financial flows and official development cooperation. These remittances, however, are no substitute for official development assistance.

Our task is to improve the effectiveness of such transfers by lowering their cost and by ensuring that transfer procedures are secure, legal and exempt from additional taxes, while endeavouring to enhance these funds' impact on development. In this regard, Switzerland applauds the efforts made by multilateral banks, bilateral agencies and other organizations operating in this area and encourages all partners to share their experiences. We encourage States, international organizations and international financial institutions to integrate the issue of migration into their national poverty-reduction strategies and their regional policies.

We believe also that macroeconomic policies, when established, should facilitate international and national investment, including by diasporas, so that our actions unfold in a spirit of genuine partnership.

Switzerland believes that the social integration of migrants takes place primarily by way of participation in the labour market and through education. For that reason, Switzerland advocates policies aimed at improving the status of migrant workers, their active integration into the workforce, vocational training for young people, a reduction in unemployment and the taking of effective measures against illegal or clandestine employment.

We should spare no effort in combating the most inhuman form of forced migration, namely trafficking in human beings. It is our duty, therefore, to provide the victims -- children, women and men -- with enhanced support in terms of protection and assistance. Neither should it be forgotten that the insecurity and lack of protection to which migrants are exposed tends to put in danger particularly the elderly, the sick and the handicapped. Women and children, too, are also among the most vulnerable. Sadly, however, all this represents only the tip of the iceberg.

The President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Richard Fadden, Deputy Minister, Citizenship and Immigration of Canada.

Mr. Fadden (Canada)

The decision to hold the High-level Dialogue is a reflection of the broader perspective that States and experts are increasingly adopting in their consideration of issues related to immigration.

It has been 12 years since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Canada continues to believe that chapter 10 of the ICPD Programme of Action provides an important guide for global cooperation on issues related to migration. Over the past few years, we have witnessed a growing sophistication in the way migration is treated. Linkages between migration and other areas of public policy are being explored in greater depth, an approach that Canada finds valuable.

While it has become commonplace to talk of the impact that globalization is having on all parts of the world, it would be a mistake to suggest that globalization affects all parts of the world in the same way, or that each country's response to globalization needs to be -- or even can be -- the same. Although there is much to be learned from sharing approaches and experiences concerning migration, solutions need to be tailored to local conditions to be effective. In that regard, the notion of sharing "best practices" requires refinement. Not everything can be systematized into a global approach.

The High-level Dialogue brings together many voices from the worlds of migration and development: policymakers from developed and developing countries; international organizations; civil society; and the United Nations system. Each has something valuable to add to the discussion, and, as we move forward, we need to ensure that each of these voices is given the opportunity to develop and to contribute.

To anchor the discussion within the realities of policymaking, however, Canada believes that this process should begin as a dialogue between States. As it evolves, the dialogue -- while remaining under the leadership of States -- should facilitate links with interested stakeholders.

As the Secretary-General's Special Representative has said on a number of occasions, for progress to be made on this issue, the various stakeholders need to approach these discussions in a constructive and open way.

Governments cannot and should not work in isolation. Yet at the same time, it is important that States take the opportunity to reflect upon and refine their own perspectives in order to engage constructively with others. Canada supports consideration of appropriate mechanisms for civil society and the newly created Global Migration Group to provide input into any ongoing discussions that States may decide to undertake.

In considering any ongoing process that might emerge from the High-level Dialogue, Canada would encourage States to take the following into account.

An ongoing process should add value to international discussions rather than duplicate what is already taking place or what could occur within existing mechanisms. This new dialogue should take place as a standalone forum and not as part of the United Nations system and its related institutions. Clearly defined links to the United Nations, possibly through the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, should be developed. The process should focus on developing an understanding of substantive issues rather than on negotiating texts for resolutions or declarations. Finally, States should take the leadership role, as they are responsible for turning ideas into concrete policy.

The President

I give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Ellen Sauerbrey, Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugee and Migration Affairs of the United States.

Ms. Sauerbrey (United States)

The United States is pleased to participate in this event, which provides the opportunity for States Members of the United Nations to discuss our collective experiences on migration and development.

The issue of immigration is very close to America's heart. It goes to the very core of who we are as a people and what we believe in as a country: hard work, opportunity, rule of law, freedom, tolerance and liberty. Let there be no confusion: the United States' commitment to promoting orderly migration as a positive development for all nations is firm and undiminished by the challenges of the post-9/11 world.

Last year alone, over 1 million foreign nationals received permanent legal residence in the United States. America hosts approximately 20 per cent of the world's migrants, coming to us from every corner of the globe. Last year we resettled over half of the world's refugees -- perhaps the most vulnerable migrants.

All countries of the United Nations family have shared with us their people, their culture and their faiths, representing the magnificent glory and range and reach of God's human creation. So when America looks in the mirror, it is them that we see.

The United States takes the issue of migration very seriously. We are deeply and sincerely committed to promoting legal, orderly and humane migration as an engine for economic growth and prosperity for all countries. We are also, without hesitation, fully committed to respect for the human dignity and human rights of migrants. On these points, there should be no doubt.

My country approaches the subject of migration with humility. Through more than 200 years of experience, we have learned that the political, economic and human complexities of this phenomenon defy easy answers. Even in the eighteenth century, our founding fathers debated the appropriate scope of immigration to the United States. They mistakenly feared that foreign influences would somehow undermine America's democratic principles.

The United States recognizes that there are negative aspects of migration, such as human trafficking and smuggling, and we are committed to confronting those challenges. Our national conversation on migration continues today. Americans understand the need to work through these hard issues as a nation. We offer ourselves as an example, and perhaps a reassurance, to others who are struggling with immigration as a relatively new topic.

Americans are a practical people when it comes to immigration. This national preference for the pragmatic and the concrete, coupled with an unwavering commitment to migration as a positive phenomenon, shapes how the United States fosters international cooperation in this realm. In our experience, migration relationships work best between neighbours and neighbourhoods, near and far, where there are common interests and concerns that lead to tangible outcomes. We are not interested in grand and ponderous global dialogues simply because we have seen the inherent weakness that results from their size and scope. They lumber under the great weight of rounds and rounds of conversation, far removed from immediate problems and realistic solutions.

The United States welcomes the work of the Global Migration Group, which will enhance the ability of the United Nations system and the International Organization for Migration to address the nexus between migration and development. We believe, however, that the international community, including the United Nations system, already has adequate capacity to address migration issues and that the creation of additional structures could hinder, not help, international goodwill and cooperation on these issues. Any consideration of United Nations-affiliated discussions must be fully vetted by the Member States in a transparent and open manner in keeping with the United Nations rules of procedure and out of respect for the traditions of this institution.

We continue to believe, as did our forefathers, that what binds Americans together is a shared belief in principles guaranteed under our Constitution. The United States expects immigrants to respect the fundamental rights and responsibilities that accompany residence and citizenship. We work as a society to build immigrants' appreciation for United States institutions, recognizing their personal connection to our shared American history as an immigrant nation.

Americans support the principle that immigrants, while fully integrating into their new communities, can also remain connected to their country of origin. One of the strongest links is remittances. These financial flows are a manifestation of migration's pains as well as its benefits. They represent enormous toil, sacrifice and the sorrow of separation from family and community. Yet they also symbolize the profound love of those people and places left behind and the courage to follow one's dreams.

Both migrant sending and receiving countries have responsibility to maximize migration's benefits, including remittances. Remittances are private transfers of funds, which will have a greater overall impact on development in countries of origin when those countries undertake economic and social reforms that create an environment conducive to asset building, entrepreneurship and investment.

Immigrants come to the United States, as President Bush has said, not only to take, but to give. They come for a chance to work hard, to support their families and to rise in the world. While migration can be beneficial to sending and receiving countries as well as to migrants themselves, it is important to note that the decision to migrate should be made out of choice, not necessity. Countries of origin and destination must work together to make this a reality.

The President

I give the floor to Mr. Kastriot Sulka, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Albania.

Mr. Sulka (Albania)

Albania welcomes the organization of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development and believes that it will have a strong impact on future efforts and policies for the management of migration internationally. According to the Secretary-General's report (A/60/871), more than 191 million persons are international migrants -- a fact that shows the huge dimensions of the phenomenon and its influence on international balances. As such, it cannot be considered to be a phenomenon of developed or developing countries alone.

The global policy on migration management for the benefit of both States and individuals is largely reflected in Albania. Since 1991, Albania has experienced significant flows of migration at a rate of up to 20 per cent of the total population. Albanian migrants are found mostly in the European Union, especially in the two neighbouring countries, Greece and Italy, but also in Germany, the United States of America, Canada and Australia. Until 2004, Albania was one of the main transit routes in South-East Europe towards the European Union. As a result, migration was a major concern not only for the country itself but also for its relations with the European Union and in particular with its neighbours.

I would like to share with you a new approach that the Government of Albania has proclaimed recently: "Albania: 1 Euro", aimed at attracting investors in poor areas with high unemployment rates. The initiative is addressed in particular at the diaspora and emigrants, as the need for their contribution is high, taking in consideration that they bring with them not only financial capital but also human capital. In this way, they share with the community a new mentality, culture and technological advancements. As noted in paragraph 16 of the Secretary-General's report,

"After working in Greece, Albanians bring home new agricultural skills that enable them to increase production. By promoting the exchange of experience and helping build partnerships, the international community can do much to increase and to spread these positive effects of migration on development."

While migration creates possibilities for migrants to have a better life and contributes to the countries of both origin and destination, it has a negative impact as a result of the emigration of highly skilled workers and the phenomenon of brain drain.

Albania is trying to reverse the trend: from brain drain to brain gain, by introducing strategies for attracting highly skilled workers and excellent students who have studied abroad to contribute effectively to Albania. The Albanian Government supports and welcomes cooperation with civil society and student organizations that provide financial incentives for the highly skilled and students to return.

The United Nations Development Programme is supporting an initiative of the Albanian Government through the Brain Gain programme, which seeks to maximize the role of migrants and the diaspora in academia, public administration and business. This programme supports the Albanian Government's efforts to create the conditions and incentive structure required for the engagement of the diaspora in Albania's development.

Albania has seen that without the support and expertise of specialized international agencies in the field, in particular the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations, the World Bank, UNICEF, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Union, and without cooperation among countries, it is difficult to deal coherently with migration. Experience shows us that without close cooperation between countries of destination and those of origin it is impossible to fight illegal migration and manage migration for the benefit of all. Albania agrees that in framing policies or establishing structures, the perspective of emigrants and civil society should be taken into consideration, and not only that of the countries of origin and destination. We believe that the results of this debate will be followed by concrete actions, resulting in better management of migration internationally.

The President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Hassan Ibrahim Al-Muhannadi, Director for Social Planning Management of the Planning Council of Qatar.

Mr. Al-Muhannadi (Qatar)

It gives me great pleasure on behalf of the State of Qatar to congratulate you, Madam President, on your election as President of the General Assembly at its sixty-first session. I am confident that your wisdom and experience will guide the work of the Assembly towards success. I would like also to thank the Secretary-General for his tireless efforts to shed light on the question of global migration and development, and for his exhaustive report (A/60/871).

The phenomenon of migration goes far back in time. Its pace has, however, increased in our era because of globalization and its socio-economic impacts and the significant progress in communications and transportation. The current status of migration requires serious attention if we are to harness it to further the interests of individuals and nations. Organizing this global Dialogue is merely a step towards finding effective means to ensure the protection of migrants, as well as of countries of origin and destination. The State of Qatar welcomes the Secretary-General's proposal to establish a global consultative forum on migration, and we appreciate Belgium's offer to host its first meeting.

The State of Qatar hosts many migrant workers from many nations. They work side by side with citizens of Qatar, promoting the development of our nation's economy, which is now one of the world's fastest growing. The State of Qatar has always been proud of the contributions made by migrant labour to its robust economic growth and its tireless efforts to achieve sustainable development.

Moreover, the State of Qatar is engaging in close and continuous cooperation with countries of origin. For example, it has concluded bilateral agreements regulating the employment of migrants and identifying the role of public authorities in countries of origin and destination. These agreements require that such workers be employed under labour contracts that clearly spell out the rights and obligations of both employees and employers. The contracts are certified by officials of both countries to prevent any abuse of migrant workers; they also define procedures for settling disputes between employees and employers, enable migrant workers to fully exercise their right to send remittances to their countries of origin and set out rules for paid vacations and other leave.

Our Government has created a tolerant social environment that enables migrant workers to freely practice their religion and maintain their own culture. The State of Qatar also provides migrant workers with basic rights and benefits, including education, health care and social protection.

Another example of Qatar's interest in its migrant workers is its invitation to all members of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council to participate in the forum on migrant workers to be held in Doha in April 2007. The State of Qatar pays particular attention to protecting the rights of migrant workers in accordance with its laws and the contracts that are concluded with them and certified by the countries of origin. In that regard, I wish to reiterate that the State of Qatar honours its commitments under the contracts concluded with it and strictly abides by the relevant international agreements and treaties.

In conclusion, I should like to express the hope that this Dialogue will be fully successful in promoting progress and well-being in our nations.

The President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Yannis Valinakis, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.

Mr. Valinakis (Greece)

On behalf of the Greek Government, I would like to stress the importance of the organization by the United Nations of the High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development.

It was in May 2003, during the Greek presidency of the European Union (EU), that the European Council adopted, for the first time, Conclusions on migration and development, containing a series of concrete measures and items for further elaboration by community organizations and member States. Since then, much has been done in the framework of EU action related to the interrelationship between migration and development, and migration has rightly been placed on our development agenda.

The links between migration and development are complex and need further study. It appears that migration, when managed effectively, can have a substantial positive impact for both countries of destination and countries of origin.

The European Council, in its Conclusions of 15-16 December 2005, underlined the need for a balanced, global and coherent approach to cooperation with third countries, utilizing the benefits of legal migration and covering policies to combat illegal immigration. It recalled that migration issues are a central element in the relations of the Union and its member States with third countries.

The EU commitment to support the development efforts of countries of origin and transit is also part of a long-term process aimed at responding to the opportunities and challenges of migration. In that regard, the European Council recognized the importance of addressing the root causes of migration -- for example, through the eradication of poverty in countries and regions of origin, good governance and the protection of human rights. We fully subscribe to those basic policy principles.

In the same vein, we consider the Rabat EU-Africa Ministerial Conference, held in July 2006, to be a fine paradigm for our relations with a basic group of countries of origin and transit. We believe that it will assist significantly in improving ways to communicate and cooperate with African partners.

Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to address the phenomenon of illegal migration jointly, appropriately and effectively. The fight against illegal migration is an incessant struggle that is taking place from West Africa and the Canary Islands, across the Mediterranean to the Aegean Sea and the Middle East. Illegal migration has recently taken on huge and uncontrollable proportions. Given the fact that Greece's coastline extends more than 16,000 kilometres, combating all forms of illegal migration is a declared high priority of the Greek Government.

In conclusion, I should like to reiterate our view that the High-level Dialogue should be the beginning of a new global approach to migration in its various forms. It should thus focus on initiating broad and thorough discussion on the relevant issues and on lessons learned about the multidimensional aspects of international migration and development in order to identify appropriate ways and means to maximize the development benefits of migration and to minimize its negative impacts.

The President

I now give the floor to Her Excellency Mrs. Mari Pedak, Director-General of the Citizenship and Migration Board of Estonia.

Mrs. Pedak (Estonia)

The general position of the European Union (EU) was outlined in the statement of its presidency. Therefore, as the representative of a member of the EU, I will not repeat what has already been said, but rather focus on a number of main aspects that are of great importance to Estonia.

Nobel Prize winner Amartya Sen defined development as the process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy. That includes both social and economic arrangements and political and civil rights. Although migration is an increasingly complex phenomenon in our globalizing world, its primary cause remains the disparities that exist with regard to the freedoms enjoyed by individuals. Therefore, I would like to stress the need to address the root causes of migration. They encompass conflict, poverty, famine, disease, lack of employment opportunities, trade barriers, lack of rule of law and poor governance. Most of those causes are primarily of man-made origin.

These are significant barriers to freedom that need to be abolished in order to eliminate conditions that compel people to leave their country. It goes without saying, that we, as States, are primarily responsible for creating an environment conducive to development. Naturally, one element of that environment would be the efficient and purposeful utilization of the remittances of migrants for further development, such as for education, investment and microcredit. That would benefit both sending and receiving societies. Those are some of the reasons that issues related to international migration must become an integral part of the development agenda. Likewise, development issues should be recognized as important elements of migration policy.

The Secretary-General has stressed the importance of respecting the rights of migrants in order to realize fully the benefits of international migration. He also has stressed the obligation to observe the laws and regulations of the host State. It is almost a truism that education plays a key role in personal development and significantly expands individuals' opportunities and their capacity to live a happy life.

Former Estonian President Lennart Meri has said that a lack of language skills creates lawlessness. Only by understanding the language will we understand the laws and thus, effectively, our rights and obligations. Learning the local language and respecting the local culture opens a window of opportunity to an immigrant to effectively operate in the host society as a subject and not as an object. It also allows him or her to increase his or her competitiveness in the labour market, as well as to obtain new skills and other assets for development. To effectively support this process, we need to continue local introductory and integration programmes, also bearing in mind that integration is a two-way street and that citizens of receiving nations must also be educated.

Last but not least, for successful integration we all -- both sending and receiving States -- must avoid using migrants for domestic ideological purposes. We must not make these people instruments of our domestic policy.

We truly hope that this Dialogue on International Migration and Development will continue to play a significant global role in this respect.

The President

I now call on His Excellency Mr. Carlos Zamora Rodríguez, Director of Consular Affairs and Cubans Living Abroad of Cuba.

Mr. Zamora Rodríguez (Cuba)

Allow me, Madam, to congratulate you on your election as President of the General Assembly and to express my delegation's will and commitment to continue working constructively with you. My delegation wishes to associate itself with the statement made by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. At the same time we would like to express some thoughts on this topic.

The current phenomenon of international migration is a consequence of the present world order imposed by the developed world. The increasing differences between the rich countries and the huge underdeveloped and poor areas of the planet are a consequence of neo-liberal globalization. Millions of human beings see no alternative for their future other than to migrate towards the developed economies of the first world. Changing this landscape is a challenge that we all must address, for its consequences affect both rich and poor countries. It is a matter of urgency to address the current phenomenon of migration, and it is appropriate to include the issue in development policies.

Maintaining the status quo will only serve to increase the pressure of masses of migrants coming from impoverished areas of the planet besieging the borders of the developed world. This flood cannot be stopped by criminalizing migration, erecting massive walls at the borders or creating administrative or even military barriers.

We cannot accept approaches aimed at managing and administering migration flows to meet the needs of the developed world. It is essential to change the current situation of underdevelopment and poverty in a large part of the planet so that migration meets the true needs and aspirations of individuals who wish to settle in another country. Development is the only way to balance migration flows in the world of the future.

The planet's natural resources are being exploited for the benefit of the developed countries. In today's globalized economy, the exploitation of human resources is ever increasing. An unjust international migration order has been created to serve the richest and most powerful countries, which receive skilled labour, steal the best brains and talent, and in return want our countries to become their border guards, to stop irregular migration.

For example, in Latin America every year we train 1.2 million university graduates, at a cost of at least $20,000 each. Of these, 240,000 -- that is, 20 per cent -- are stolen away to work and do research in the rich nations, which offer them conditions that our impoverished nations, cannot guarantee them, and we receive no compensation whatsoever. They sell us remittances as a panacea for development -- remittances that are the fruit of the migrants' sacrifices -- while constantly reducing their commitments and their official development assistance.

It is time to rectify this. Sincere cooperation is required to contribute to the development of the vast poor areas of the planet. Without steadfast political will, it will not be possible to solve the problem. However, today's facts call into question the existence of that political will on the part of the industrialized world.

The policy of blockade and aggression against my country is one example of the aforementioned problem. The so-called Cuban Adjustment Act allows any Cuban who arrives on United States territory to take up residence, no matter the means and procedures used. This act has encouraged illegal migration and alien smuggling. It contradicts the bilateral migration agreement, which establishes the obligation to ensure legal, safe and orderly migration. Moreover, the United States authorities show no inclination to investigate and punish organized crime that benefits from alien smuggling.

Moreover, Cubans resident in the United States are the only group of migrants that is restricted in terms of visiting and helping their relatives in their country of origin, as a result of the regulations issued by the host country. This situation has become crueller since the United States Government's May 2004 adoption of measures further restricting travel and remittances on the basis of an absurd and offensive limitation of the concept of family. Today, a son can visit his mother only once every three years, even if she is dying.

Increasing and unsustainable military expenditures constitute another example of the lack of will regarding development cooperation. What can justify the vast and growing amounts spent on the development of increasingly deadly and sophisticated weapons, which are shown by the current wars to be aimed precisely at the poor countries and to cause significant displacements of people? The reduction of military spending and its investment in development would be a demonstration of the genuine will to address the issue of development, and to help change the current situation.

The developed world has received a substantial contribution from migrants to its current standard of living, while migrants are the victims of economic, cultural and social discrimination. The developed world can be said to have contracted a debt with the migrants for those contributions. A way to pay it back would be to cancel the external debt of the source countries.

The walls and barriers being built today can hold back migration, but they do not solve the causes of the present and continuing forced migration of millions of human beings. If this High-level Dialogue raises greater awareness of the need to seek solutions that will address the structural causes of international migration, then it will have been worthwhile for the Secretary-General to have convened it; but if we confine ourselves to migratory flow management formulas, we shall at best be postponing the impending crisis to which the phenomenon is leading.

The beneficiaries of the current world order should reflect on this issue -- if not with generosity, at least with intelligence and common sense. Solutions are urgently needed. It is better to arrive at them between us all through cooperation.

The President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Christian Wenaweser, chairman of the delegation of Liechtenstein.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein)

International migrants numbering 191 million constitute an important factor in the global economy. Their decision to migrate has, however, first and foremost an impact on local communities, in countries of origin as well as in countries of destination. And the impact is not only an economic one. The report of the Secretary-General (A/60/871) illustrates that migration also generates far-reaching social, cultural and political consequences.

The challenges of governing international migration are radically different from those involved in managing the movements of inanimate objects such as goods, capital or information. Co-development through international migration should therefore be understood and discussed as a people-centred process of which many aspects cannot be measured in purely economic terms. Promotion of a people-centred process would help in responding to the many differences in global migration patterns and to local conditions of sending and receiving societies. It would also ensure a human rights approach in our policymaking at the local, national and international levels.

Lack of the rule of law and low levels of human security, together with underdevelopment, are often at the origin of the desire to search for a better future abroad. Coupled with misinformation on the possibilities and limitations of migration, such situations may lead to the exploitation of migrants and to violations of their human rights.

States have a responsibility to properly inform people about the conditions of regular migration. They also have the obligation to raise awareness of the positive contributions of migrants to society, in order to counter racism, xenophobia and discrimination, and they have to take firm action against any elements in society that seek to abuse, intimidate or exploit migrants.

Mr. Wenaweser (Liechtenstein)

Migrants who deliberately challenge the rule of law or the human rights of others must, for their part, expect States to take measures against them. Ensuring the rule of law with full respect for human rights in countries of origin and destination must be an essential element of any international and national migration policy. Rule of law and human rights are the basis for good governance of international migration, which is beneficial for the sustainable co-development of all countries and for the migrants themselves.

While migration is a global phenomenon, its forms and manifestations vary from region to region, as does its impact on individual countries. The experience of small countries shows that their ability to cope with the challenges of migration is more likely to be stretched. Emigration of highly educated persons tends to affect small countries earlier because their pool of human resources is limited. Similarly, the economies of many small developing States depend to a high degree on remittances. On the receiving side, it is often the small countries which account for the highest percentage of migrants living or working in their jurisdiction. The impact of large cross-border movements of persons tends to be more directly felt in small communities.

As a small State, Liechtenstein has been seeking to balance economic necessities with the social challenges of migration. With a population of roughly 35,000 persons and 34 per cent non-Liechtenstein nationals residing in the country, Liechtenstein is home to people from about 90 different countries. One of the priorities of Government policy lies in the promotion of integration through the provision of targeted services for migrants, to learn the national language. Those services have proven especially helpful for the integration of women migrants and their young children. Many other measures are currently under discussion to further promote integration, which is based on the cooperation of both sides -- the receiving and the migrant communities.

In its development cooperation, Liechtenstein has been placing special emphasis on the development of rural areas in small developing countries. The projects it has been financing seek to improve the livelihoods of people outside their countries. Political and financial investments in integration measures, based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, as well as development cooperation with small countries, are the two pillars of sound migration policy. Liechtenstein will accordingly continue to contribute to international efforts to realize the full potential of migration, for the co-development of countries and migrants alike.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Luis Alberto Sepúlveda, Director of Consular and Migration Affairs of Chile.

Mr. Sepúlveda (Chile)

My delegation welcomes the decision of the General Assembly to hold this High-level Dialogue on the highly important topic of international migration and development. We are confident that this initiative will place that social and economic phenomenon, involving almost 200 million people in the world, at the centre of the United Nations agenda.

Allow me to point out that the President of Chile, Ms. Michelle Bachelet, also underwent the difficult experience of being a migrant, when in the mid-1970s, owing to political reasons, she had to leave her country. Consequently, she is closely acquainted with the adversities and insecurities that come of leaving behind homeland and loved ones.

The position of Chile on the key subject of migration is basically reflected in the Declaration of Asunción, adopted at the VIth South American Conference on Migration, held in May 2006, and in the Declaration of Santiago on Migration Principles, agreed upon at the Meeting of Ministers of the Interior of the Common Market of the South and Associate States, held in May 2004.

One of the central themes of this debate should be the developmental dimension of migration, and particularly its contribution to poverty reduction. The main challenge facing us is the process of making international migration a positive force for the comprehensive and harmonious development of our peoples.

To that end, we must see how the sizeable resources created by remittances can be channelled towards development objectives that benefit migrants and their families. Chile accordingly considers that the cost of remittance transfers should be reduced, that remittance flows should be facilitated and that development-oriented investments in recipient countries should be encouraged, supplementing and complementing official development assistance.

In addition, we share, along with other Latin American and Caribbean States, the concern about the rights of migrants and their families. In that spirit, Chile last year ratified the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. We reaffirm our total commitment to the promotion and protection of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all migrant men, women and children, regardless of their legal status, beliefs, religion or ethnicity, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We believe that this High-level Dialogue should mark the beginning in the Organization of a process of reflection and ongoing consultation on international migration. Nevertheless, we believe that this exercise should not lead to the establishment of a new body within the United Nations, nor should it duplicate the functions of existing bodies and mechanisms.

Our country is the product of the integration and mixture of indigenous populations with various waves of European and Arab migrants. As a result of economic developments in recent decades in our country, Chile has now become a country of destination for migrants. As a host country, we have endeavoured at this time to formulate and implement a policy seeking to modernize the management of migration, principally by improving the living conditions of foreigners, so that their establishment and integration in the country can benefit all concerned.

The migration policy of Chile is based on the following principles: guarantees of the right of residence and freedom of movement, guarantees of freedom of thought and conscience, access to residence on a basis of equality, access to justice as a right of all immigrants, social protection of immigrants, guarantees of the labour rights of foreign workers in Chile, non-discrimination and family reunification.

At the same time, as a country of origin, we have a responsibility towards Chilean migrants residing abroad. As a crucial step towards meeting that responsibility, in 2003 and 2004 our country carried out its first voluntary census of Chileans residing abroad. That entailed arduous but valuable work on the five continents and in some 100 countries. That effort helped to strengthen links between Chilean society and the community of Chileans abroad.

We have been able to confirm, in the course of these two days, that there is a significant and expanding awareness in the international community regarding the realities of migration, including migrant rights and the benefits they bring to development and to poverty relief in the world.

We hope that this meeting will constitute a real and decisive milestone on the road to progress in dealing with this important social phenomenon specific to our age, which we must decisively address.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ewald Limon, Chairman of the delegation of Suriname.

Mr. Limon (Suriname)

Globalization, advances in communications and transportation, underdevelopment, lack of opportunity and poverty, have all contributed to the increase in the flow of migrants. We share the view that there is a need for effective management of international migration. For such management to be achieved, all stakeholders must be involved and all root causes must be examined. My delegation therefore welcomes the convening of this High-level Dialogue and considers it an excellent opportunity to exchange views at the global level.

We align ourselves with the statement delivered by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. The Government of Suriname agrees that international migration should be managed in a manner that contributes to the development efforts of States. A process of consultation and an exchange of views, including best practices on the various aspects of international migration, are therefore needed. The consultations on co-development and the maximization of the impact of remittances on the development process are of special interest to my delegation.

Suriname believes that there is need for a steady flow of skilled human resources to meet the nation's development objectives. Therefore, the Dialogue should discuss and explore possible arrangements to compensate for the loss of skilled personnel between the receiving States and States of origin, given the high cost of training human resources. In addition, the advantages of the brain gain and brain circulation arrangements could be examined. The Dialogue could also examine the use of remittances for economic investment and social advancement, for education and health services and for housing purposes, as well as assisting in analysing financial services, attracting savings for, and investment in, those areas.

With regard to international migration, Suriname is engaged in a process of evaluation at the national level, and consultation and exchange of views at the regional level, in order to strengthen our migration policy. We are convinced of the need for international migration to evolve within a framework that guarantees full respect for human rights.

Among our commitments at the national level are actions to ensure that migration takes place within a legal framework and that trafficking in persons is more effectively countered. At the core of these actions is the establishment of a special police unit responsible for the combating of human trafficking and related crimes. In addition, an information campaign concerning trafficking in persons and related crimes was launched, and policy decisions have been taken that will guarantee the safe return of victims of trafficking to their countries of origin.

Suriname values the contribution and initiatives of the various regional organizations and institutions with regard to the manifold aspects of international migration. We are therefore actively participating in that process.

At the regional level, consultations are ongoing within the framework of the African, Caribbean and Pacific groups of States; the South American consultation mechanism; and the Caribbean Community. This dialogue can significantly contribute to discussions on improving coherence on migration policy, foster dialogue between sending and receiving States, support regional consultative processes and strengthen coherence and coordination among agencies at all levels.

Hence we consider this meeting to be the start of a process at the global level that complements consultations and actions at the regional and bilateral level with regard to international migration. We therefore support the Secretary-General's proposal for the establishment of a consultative forum on migration and development issues.

The Acting President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Eduardo Sevilla Somoza, chairman of the delegation of Nicaragua.

Mr. Sevilla Somoza (Nicaragua)

We wish to associate ourselves with the statement made by the delegation of Guyana on behalf of the Rio Group and with the statement made by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77.

Nicaragua welcomes this High-level Dialogue on Migration and Development and deems it particularly timely and relevant, as these two issues should be dealt with in a comprehensive and integrated manner. We recognize that the issue of migration involves all sectors of Government, and we believe also that account should be taken of the experiences and views of the relevant non-governmental sectors, including diaspora associations, civil society and the private sector.

We welcome the fact that this dialogue is multidimensional and is launching a quest for the best way to ensure that migration contributes to development. Indeed, the United Nations is the forum best suited to this exchange of ideas and experiences. Since migration is a global phenomenon that occurs not only between pairs of countries or within one single region, but from and to all parts of the world, we must consider it collectively.

We very much welcome, as a follow-up to this High-level Dialogue and in order to deal in greater depth with the broad subject of migration and development, the recommendation of the Secretary-General to establish a consultative forum led by States and open to the 192 States Members of the United Nations. Such a forum would offer Governments a venue to discuss issues related to international migration and development in a systematic and comprehensive way.

The Government of Nicaragua attaches high priority to the combat against trafficking in human beings. To that end, in February 2004 we formed a National Coalition against Trafficking in Persons, with the participation of several related institutions. They are making significant progress in fighting this scourge at the national and regional levels, with a firm commitment to protecting human rights.

The programme to fight trafficking in persons launched by the Government of Nicaragua together with the International Orgaqnization for Migration (IOM) and members of the national coalition against trafficking in persons is holding regular working sessions with a view to drafting a repatriation protocol that sets out administrative and legal guidelines in that respect that are based on daily experience. It also aims to take, along with the participants, concrete actions and steps in the context of the various components of the process: research, repatriation, assistance, and legalization of the system. The result will be the drafting at the national level of the protocol for the return of boys, girls and adolescents victims of human trafficking, which is in the final stages of ratification.

Our Government also participated in the technical meeting held in Guatemala on 9 and 10 March to consider the possibility of elaborating a regional protocol that would include guidelines for the repatriation of victims of trafficking and vulnerable populations. The outcome of that meeting yielded a draft setting out regional guidelines for providing special protection to boys, girls and adolescents who are victims of trafficking.

We are aware of the technical limitations to our work, but experience has shown that the political and personal will of all involved with the issue is fundamental to the eradication of this social scourge. That is why we have been developing a new culture of citizenship, thereby contributing to the fulfilment of the principle of shared responsibility between the State, the family and society in guaranteeing human rights, in particular those of children and of adolescents.

The efforts that have been undertaken by the various departments of the Ministry of the Interior responsible for the national police, migration, immigration, coexistence and citizens' security are showing positive results among the general population as well as the student population in terms of prevention and detection. However, since the crime of trafficking is very complex and has various manifestations, it would be better addressed if certain State institutions and national and international non-governmental organizations with experience in this area were able better to coordinate their work within the National Coalition against Trafficking in Persons, so that we could more effectively optimize and distribute the resources available.

The Acting President

I give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Ali Hachani, chairman of the delegation of Tunisia.

Mr. Hachani (Tunisia)

I should like to endorse the statement made by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

This important debate is the first high-level event of the United Nations entirely devoted to migration and development. It is the outcome of a long process of coordination and reflection undertaken at both the international and regional levels.

In that framework, I should like in particular to mention the Euro-African conference on Migration and Development, held at Rabat on 10 and 11 July 2006, whose conclusions, namely the Declaration and Action Plan, encompass a broad range of measures relating to migration and development, including the establishment of financial mechanisms to promote co-development, as well as issues relating to legal migration, and judicial and police cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration.

Increased international interest in questions of migration, of which this High-level Dialogue is a consequence, shows that now more than ever migration is a cross-cutting issue in all societies, with economic, political and cultural aspects closely linked to development. Globalization especially has brought this to the foreground. Migration can no longer be dealt with on a short-term basis or unilaterally, but as part of a cooperative plan, for the process of migration requires coordinated, multidimensional responses.

Because of increased disparities in development, unbalanced changes in population growth and the multiplication of conflicts, there is a clear trend of increased migratory flows, which must be taken into account in the formulation and implementation of migration policies. Thus migration, which is much more a necessity than a choice, should be dealt with comprehensively and incorporated into programmes for economic development and cooperation among States. It is inconceivable that at a time when borders are opening to the flow of trade, services and capital, they are increasingly closed to the flow of persons. This inevitably leads to clandestine migration and all that that implies in terms of risks to individuals and to society in general.

Migration ought not to be a threat, we believe; it should be a factor for mutual enrichment, both socio-economically and in terms of culture. It is an appropriate alternative response to the needs of the labour market in industrialized countries and an essential, complementary and rewarding component in various areas of bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. International events over the past few years give the issue of migration political, economic, social and cultural importance and confirm the close interdependence between changes in both countries of origin and countries of destination, involving the responsibilities of all parties.

I would like to stress that collaborative management of migration, based on a comprehensive approach that conforms with and respects the interest of the different countries, has become one of the major challenges that the international community must take up at the beginning of this millennium in order to establish a balance between the imperatives of development and the constraints of globalization.

It is also of paramount importance that we highlight the promotion of the transfer of new technologies and the exchange of skills in order to strengthen the economies of the countries of origin and of destination through increased international, bilateral and triangular development cooperation as well as decentralized cooperation between local institutions and development agencies.

My delegation endorses the finding that financial flows from immigrants are poorly or little used, owing to high transfer costs. It is necessary to discuss measures to decrease transfer costs and thus provide additional resources for financing development. However, remittances sent by migrant workers cannot be considered as and made part of international financing for development, not can they substitute for it. Remittances are fluctuating private resources, of a complementary nature.

My delegation shares the idea that the Millennium Development Goals process must discuss migration and development.

Given the increased interdependence of the two shores of the Mediterranean -- a political and geographical area of which Tunisia is part -- and the complexity of migratory movements, Tunisia has repeatedly appealed for the establishment of a constructive dialogue to promote the development of a sustainable and dynamic process that makes emigration one of the elements of economic cooperation, of equitable development and of cultural exchanges between the North and South of the Mediterranean, especially in the western region.

In that spirit, Tunisia is pleased that the first Ministerial Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue on Migration in the Western Mediterranean was held in Tunis on 16 and 17 October 2002. That conference unanimously adopted the Tunis Declaration, which represents a fundamental new step in Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.

I would also like to mention the positive evolution of the 5+5 Dialogue through the holding of annual ministerial meetings, which shows that the countries involved recognize the need to continue the dialogue, consultation and coordination in the area of migration. The Fifth Ministerial Conference, to be held in Madrid in November 2006, will be a new milestone in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

Tunisia will continue to attach appropriate importance to the questions of migration and to maintain to its partners that unilateral solutions and administrative and security measures do not necessarily lead to the effective and sustainable handling of the migration issue.

As His Excellency President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali has stated,

"Migration today is not the simple search for employment and a source of income. It is also an essential aspect of the creation of wealth, a basis of stability and united co-development, and a decisive factor in enriching areas of mutual knowledge and rapprochement among nations."

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Guy Serieys, Chairman of the Delegation of France.

Mr. Serieys (France)

The global phenomenon of migration is in large part the result of inequalities in development between various regions of our planet. How can we forget that today one fifth of the world's population enjoys four fifths of the world's wealth?

Dramatic and daily events that illustrate the vital need for mobility make us aware that the phenomena of migration cannot be dealt with without taking into consideration the development of the countries of the South. We must each, at our own level of responsibility, mobilize to re-examine our activities and efforts from that angle. The goals of development must remain the pillar of international cooperation. And for that, we must reinforce the instruments and means for combating poverty and promoting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals that we defined together. In that sense, human development, health and education, but also economic development, remain our priorities. If immigrants opt for exile, it is because the means for attaining those Goals are not being effectively implemented. Much too frequently, conflicts and insecurity motivate this choice.

If we meet here today -- countries of origin, countries of transit and countries of destination -- it is because we have become aware of the role that migrants play in the development of their countries of origin.

In order to make the most of that link, the Government of France recently adopted an inter-ministerial strategy on migration and development based on three aspects and which fully takes into account European initiatives on this issue.

First, we want to facilitate -- through co-development projects that France has been implementing for several years -- individual and collective initiatives by migrants in favour of their regions of origin through financing microprojects that promote local development and employment. These initiatives require a strong partnership with immigrant associations and with the authorities of partner countries. In this regard we include Morocco, Mali and Senegal in the first rank today.

The second aspect of our strategy concerns remittances by immigrants to their regions of origin. The transfer of savings is the most eloquent expression of the socio-economic tie between diasporas and their regions of origin. In order to promote the investment of savings in development, we back both a reduction in transfer costs by encouraging competition between banking institutions and support for immigrants in their projects. The creation of a development savings account should make it possible to exempt from taxes savings that are used in the productive sector.

Finally, we should act against the brain drain and loss of human resources, fostering North-South and South-South mobility. We want to associate the elites established in France with the development of their continent, notably at the level of training and skills transfer. We also want to take steps to facilitate the mobility of qualified people in the diaspora, namely, doctors, engineers, university staff and high-level personnel who reside in France and who could, with our help, participate in our cooperation programmes and thereby transmit their knowledge and skills to the countries of the South.

Our approach to the challenges of international migration and development can be neither exclusively bilateral nor exclusively regional. Migration routes change as globalization develops, and we must, therefore, facilitate the emergence of a multilateral approach that tends itself to the identification of practical means of intervention. The proper forum for pursuing this line of thinking is of course the United Nations, but care should be taken not to exclude those who are mainly concerned, namely, the migrants themselves.

We should pool our experiences. In that regard, the most recent Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development was, in our opinion, an essential stage in the definition of a North-South partnership aimed at providing a global and balanced approach to migration issues. We should also encourage the emergence of a system of effective exchange among Governments and international organizations working in these areas, be it at the level of objective analysis of the issues or at the level of programmes to be launched to meet the challenges that we face.

I have no doubt that our contributions to this High-level Dialogue will manage to shed light on these various questions, taking account of the variety of the situations and people concerned.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Julian Vila-Coma, chairman of the delegation of Andorra.

Mr. Vila-Coma (Andorra)

First of all, I would like to congratulate Ms. Rashed Al-Khalifa on her appointment as President of the General Assembly and, at the same time, to thank the Secretary-General for his excellent report on international migration and development (A/60/871) and his recommendation to set up a global consultative forum on this issue. We firmly believe such a forum to be a fundamental tool for working constructively on this phenomenon, one of the most sensitive in today's world, taking into account the links that exist between international migration and development.

In that regard, Andorra also wishes to commend the initiative of the Government of Belgium, which has offered to host the first forum meeting on this topic in 2007.

Andorra, which has long been a country of origin for migrants, can testify to the changes that this phenomenon makes to all the different aspects of the life of a small country. Andorra, with an economy based essentially on tourism, trade and services, has not been untouched by this phenomenon. It underwent an important change at the end of the first half of the twentieth century when it went from being a country of origin to a country of destination.

The history of Andorra then became inseparable from the phenomenon of immigration, which triggered a process of development unprecedented in its history. Immigration took place within a legal framework that made it possible for the various demographic, economic, political and social factors involved in that transformation to be carefully tied in with our everyday life in order to create a sense of belonging to our community.

Moreover, upon the adoption of our new Constitution, political relations were facilitated between Andorra as a country of destination and the countries of origin within a legal framework that is more favourable to the integration of migrants, while allowing them to maintain links with their countries of origin.

Allow me to stress my country's interest in all the issues with which we are concerned here. Andorra selected the subject as the main topic for discussion at our twenty-third summer congress this year, in order to analyse the related challenges and opportunities in historical, political, legal, sociological and cultural terms.

Andorra supports all strategies based on the study of the phenomenon of migration in the context of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, because we are convinced that only such an approach will yield positive results in that regard.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Choi Young-jin, chairman of the delegation of the Republic of Korea.

Mr. Choi Young-jin (Republic of Korea)

Immigration echoes many of the aspects of globalization. It is indeed, a multidimensional and global phenomenon. With almost 200 million international emigrants in the world, it has the potential to reshape the basic structure of our societies and to inject the countries of origin and destination with new ideas, input, and energy. A by-product of our interdependence, migration is a testament to our diversity.

As is noted in the report of the Secretary-General (A/60/871), the goals of the High-level Dialogue are clear: to raise awareness of the development dimensions of migration, to examine the migration-development nexus and to identify examples of best practices.

The Republic of Korea has been mentioned as a noteworthy case with regard to migration policies. We have the dual status of a country of origin and destination; we attract home our expatriate researchers through various policy incentives; and we successfully integrate a large number of foreign immigrants into Korean society.

In order to maximize the benefits and contain any collateral damage of migration, policies tailored to those particularities of the country are indispensable. Without them, migration could lead to an uneven distribution of benefits among societies.

Our first task in addressing this issue, then, should be to devise comprehensive and coherent migration policies in all concerned countries. Poorly integrated immigrants are a source of segregation, social problems, tensions and security-related challenges. Countries of destination should focus on formulating migration policies that take into account the long-term objective of social integration.

Another focus of a win-win migration policy involves the introduction of a domestic system to absorb the migration benefits by the countries of origin. Remittances -- at least $167 billion in 2005 alone -- seem to be one of the most immediate and tangible benefits of migration. Without a solid social system, however, the development potential of those huge resources cannot be realized.

In order for remittances to actually benefit the local economy, we first need to seek ways to reduce transnational transaction fees. Secondly, migrant families should be provided with technical assistance to utilize remittances in order to enhance productivity and thus increase their income. Microfinances would be the most useful system for the families of migrants. Countries of origin must also put mechanisms in place to mobilize the developmental potential of skilled migrants who return home.

I believe that we cannot maximize the contributions of migrants to societies without enlisting the help of the business community. The business community must recognize the economic potential of migrants, not only in terms of their labour, but also as contributors to the expansion of trade and tourism. The business community should thus be actively involved in discussions on the development potential of immigration. Furthermore, various methods to facilitate real partnerships between Governments, international organizations and the private sector need to be considered. In this regard, the Global Compact provides a worthy model of a successful international business partnership.

International cooperation on issues relating to migration is also crucial. The recently established Global Migration Group should serve to enhance coordination, cooperation and coherence between international organizations working in the field of migration and development. At the same time, we must also embrace regional efforts such as the Bali Process, among others.

The Acting President

I give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Caroline Ziade, chair of the delegation of Lebanon.

Ms. Ziade (Lebanon)

We welcome the holding of this High-level Dialogue on International Migration and Development. We believe that this Dialogue will provide an excellent opportunity for an exchange of ideas and views on migration. Furthermore, it will allow for the exploration of new horizons in terms of increasing the mutual benefits derived from migration. We also appreciate the efforts of the Secretary-General in preparing his report (A/60/871) entitled "International migration and development", and we consider it to be a good step forward.

Lebanon has 4 million people inside the country and 12 million people abroad, whose number includes 3 per cent of the population of Australia. Gibran Khalil Gibran, Carlos Ghosn, Elias Khoury, George Dabaghi, Nicolas Hayek, Amin Maalouf: they are but a small example of the great contribution that Lebanese expatriates have bestowed upon their host nations and the world.

Migration is a phenomenon that has paralleled the modern history of human beings. It was the prospect of overcoming adversity and improving their standard of living that pushed many men and women to leave their homelands and migrate to wealthier and more developed countries. It is quite obvious that the main reasons for migration are poverty, underdevelopment, social exclusion and foreign occupation, together with the absence of peace, security and stability, the large income differential between high- and low-income countries and economic crises.

In 2005, the estimated number of international migrants reached 191 million, of whom 115 million lived in developed countries and 75 million in developing countries. This means that the magnitude of South-to-South migration is comparable to that of South-to-North migration.

The positive economic and social impact of migration on the receiving and sending countries is certainly beyond doubt. According to World Bank estimates, migrants' remittances at the world level amounted to an estimated $232 billion in 2005. The share of global remittances going to developing countries is equal to $167 billion. Those remittances increase families' incomes in countries of origin and help them secure access to services such as education and health. They also improve the entrepreneurship atmosphere and increase the ability of households to make productive investments. In Lebanon, for instance, the remittances of Lebanese emigrants are estimated to be equal to 12 per cent of gross domestic product.

In certain cases, the contribution of remittances to the overall economies of countries of origin is greater than official development assistance. There is a need, therefore, for more action to reduce the transfer fees tied to migrant remittances with a view to increasing the benefits derived from them. The important contribution of remittances to the economies of the sending countries should not be used as a pretext to reduce official development assistance to developing countries.

It is well known that migrants who return home bring with them expertise and savings. They use their expertise to transfer to their countries of origin the know-how they acquired in the countries of destination. Moreover, they use their savings to start businesses that contribute to job creation in the countries of origin, thereby reducing unemployment rates.

In countries of destination, migrants supplement, rather than substitute, the greater majority of workers in the receiving countries. Inflows of low-skilled migrants help to fill jobs that are no longer attractive to the local population. Migrant workers also help to maintain services that would otherwise disappear.

The receiving States should respect the human rights of migrants. The receiving States, together with the countries of origin, should combat the traffic in persons and the smuggling of migrants and punish those offences. Also, receiving States should accord migrants equal treatment and should prohibit all forms of discrimination. The successful integration of migrants depends upon their protection from racism, xenophobia and ethnocentrism.

In conclusion, it is important to mention the fact that migrants contribute greatly to the dialogue between culture and civilizations. They largely account for the very first encounters between different civilizations and cultures. The success of that dialogue hinges upon the acceptance of their differences by the hosting societies and upon the recognition of such differences as a source of enrichment rather than discord.

The Acting President

In line with the announcement made earlier, I now give the floor to the Chairman of round table 4, His Excellency Mr. Jean-François Ndongou, Deputy Minister to the Minister of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, Francophonie and Social Integration of Gabon.

Mr. Ndongou (Gabon)

It is my task to summarize the discussions that took place in round table 4, which focused on the issue of promoting the building of partnerships and capacity-building and the sharing of best practices at all levels, including the bilateral and regional levels, for the benefit of countries and migrants alike.

Our discussion, which was thorough and thoughtful, arrived at a number of conclusions. There was a general consensus that international cooperation is essential to promote the benefits of international immigration and to address its problematic aspects. International cooperation could occur at different levels. Bilateral negotiations and formal agreements are necessary to achieve concrete outcomes and enhance collaboration on individual matters, but since migration involves groups of countries, multilateral cooperation is also called for.

Most participants gave examples of successful multilateral processes at the subregional and regional levels. Those processes range from informal consultative meetings that contribute to building understanding between various parties and helping to establish common ground among the participating countries, to the setting up of formal institutions aimed at achieving regional integration and facilitating the movement of people.

The parties agreed that such processes -- which are at different stages of development -- are helpful and should be sustained; they should also no doubt be reinforced by dialogue at a higher level. Some participants expressed their support for the continuation of dialogue at a global level. Several speakers welcomed the proposal of the Secretary-General to set up a global consultative forum that would allow informal consultations, so as to find common ground on specific issues related to international migration and development. The forum would provide a means to exchange experience and best practices so that the challenges posed by international migration could be addressed in concrete and effective ways.

The importance of building partnership and strengthening capacity to face the challenges posed by international migration, as a component of development, was underscored. The role that international organizations could play in that regard was welcomed. Several types of partnership were considered. Participants noted that partnerships between Governments and the private sector could be instrumental in promoting beneficial outcomes from migration. Associations of employers and trade unions, in particular, could help develop migration policies and support their implementation.

We agreed on the importance of social dialogue to ensure the support of citizens for equitable migration policies, and a better reflection of the views of all stakeholders on policy development. Governments were encouraged to cooperate with the private sector and civil society, to improve the situation of migrant workers and their families and also to foster a more positive perception of the contributions that migrants make to their host countries.

Cooperation between the private sector and government authorities could facilitate the transfer of remittances to countries of origin, reduce transfer costs and, even more importantly, foster the productive use of migrant's savings. International cooperation and partnership were also considered essential to combat irregular migration and find solutions to the problems thus raised. The participants called for greater cooperation between Governments and stakeholders, including migrants' associations and youth. Civil society in general has a major role to play in cooperating with government authorities to implement policy and to assist migrants in adapting to the host society.

The role of partnerships between different stakeholders would be to provide training for migrants and to facilitate their adaptation to the host country and their reintegration upon return; the promotion of healthcare for migrants was also highlighted. The importance of building partnerships and garnering international cooperation in support of capacity-building was underscored. Capacity-building was deemed necessary by both countries of origin and countries of destination. Capacity must be built in all branches of government dealing with migrants, including, inter alia, justice, home affairs, migration services, foreign affairs, social services and border control.

Civil society and the private sector could engage in partnerships for the purpose of capacity-building. Intergovernmental cooperation is also important, in particular to share experiences and responsibility for border control, and to ensure the protection of migrants, especially those needing international protection such as asylum-seekers, refugees and women and children.

Such were the results of the discussion in round table 4, which I call upon you to ratify.

The Acting President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh, chairman of the delegation of Viet Nam.

Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh (Viet Nam)

Let me at the outset thank the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General for their initiative and endeavours in bringing together delegates from around the world, as well as representatives of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, to discuss international migration, a burning issue of our time.

I am convinced that the High-level Dialogue offers a historic opportunity for a far-reaching discussion on, and an advanced understanding of, multidimensional aspects of international migration and development. Viet Nam, which has about 2.5 million migrants and migrant workers in more than 80 countries and territories, will do whatever it can to contribute to the success of the new process.

Viet Nam associates itself with the statement made earlier by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. My delegation also shares most of the views expressed by the Secretary-General in his report entitled, "International migration and development" (A/60/871), as well as his statement at the opening of the Dialogue.

Today, international migration is widely envisioned in the context of globalization and the growing wealth disparities it engenders between different countries and regions. In our view, people are drawn to migrate mainly because of the "pull" factors, which are encouraged by the demand for more flexible labour in countries of destination. That is a natural phenomenon and part of the "unfinished business of globalization". There is no doubt that, apart from making contributions towards the prosperity of destination countries, migrants play an increasingly important role in promoting development and poverty reduction in countries of origin.

While there is a growing recognition that international migration flows have increased over time, the dynamics and policy implications of that phenomenon have not been given adequate attention. The protection of the human rights of migrants and migrant workers, including the rights to education, food and adequate housing, have in many cases been ignored. The exploitation of migrants, especially women and children, through human smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime, still happens.

Today, women constitute half of the global migrant population and they are among the world's most vulnerable workers. Their working conditions vary enormously. Some are treated as members of the employer's family, while others are exploited and subjected to conditions which, in some cases, amount to virtual slavery, forced labour, servitude or sexual exploitation.

Over the past few decades, migration has grown in volume and migration trends have become ever more complex. However, policy on migration issues is no longer discussed in purely regional terms, while a global mechanism capable of coping with the complexities and challenges of growing migration has not been put in place, even under the auspices of the United Nations. For many years now, only the International Organization for Migration and a number of regional structures, in collaboration with related United Nations agencies, have been actively involved in cooperation on migration.

Mr. Nguyen Tat Thanh (Viet Nam)

Viet Nam is of the view that, if this "unfinished business of globalization" is to be effectively taken in hand, we must, in addition to enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation on migration, establish more institutional mechanisms that can serve as forums in which all States, as well as international organizations and agencies, can exchange views and experiences and promote cooperation and the coordination of efforts with a view to better addressing migration issues at the global level.

We also hope that the High-level Dialogue can focus on considering ways and means to further integrate the IOM into the United Nations inter-agency system. In addition, the High-level Dialogue and its follow-up meetings should discuss steps and measures to further integrate migration into national and international development strategies and to promote partnerships, capacity-building and the sharing of best practices at all levels -- including the bilateral and regional levels -- for the benefit of countries of origin and countries of destination alike, as well as migrants, in order to fill a perceived gap in the United Nations system in respect of the issue of migration.

The President

I now give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Daniele Bodini, chairman of the delegation of San Marino.

Mr. Bodini (San Marino)

Permit me at the outset to congratulate you, Madam President, on your appointment and to wish you every success.

Our country, San Marino, today enjoys economic prosperity and an enviable standard of living, but only 60 years ago it was extremely poor and had scant economic prospects. As a matter of fact, most of our people migrated to countries where they thought they could find job opportunities and thus a better life. In Europe, they emigrated mostly to Italy and France, while the preferred overseas destinations were Argentina and the United States of America. Migrant remittances and the return of our emigrants back home were essential in boosting our country's economic development and improving its living conditions. As a nation, we understand very well the anguish created by migration and are very sympathetic towards people in need who seek a better life away from their native countries, sometimes risking their own lives and the lives of family members in desperate journeys.

We believe that it is the responsibility of developed countries to help such people so that their hopes can be fulfilled. Happiness is the fulfilment of hope. However, the acceptance of migrants in an environment that is not ready to provide adequate education, health care, jobs and, most important, social integration can lead to the creation of unwanted and desolate ghettos and give rise to cultural and religious clashes, misunderstanding, intolerance and racism. Such conditions can create, on the one hand, breeding grounds for vocal dissent and violent protest and, on the other, selfishness and prejudice. It is our duty as members of the United Nations family not only to respond to crises, but also -- and more importantly -- to make every effort to prevent them.

In a world of unrelenting globalization, migration is no longer only a bilateral affair; it is a multilateral mega-issue. Countries of destination should deal with migration in a humane manner, taking into account the needs of their own people and of their social and economic fabrics. Countries of origin, with the assistance of the international community, should ensure that their migrants do not fall victim to human trafficking and abuse. Their journeys to foreign countries should lead not only to economic rewards, but also to their personal fulfilment as human bein