OSCE-CEI High-Level Discussion on Migration

09-06-2017

On June 9, 2017 in Vienna, the Headquarters of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe hosted the high-level panel discussion on migration.  The event was held under the aegis of the Presidency of the Republic of Belarus of the Central European Initiative and the Austrian Chairmanship-in-Office of the OSCE.

OSCE/Vanja Ban

This is a first joint event of this type between the two organizations. It was initiated by the Permanent Delegation of the Republic of Belarus to the OSCE and supported by the Austrian Side and the OSCE Secretariat.

O.Kravchenko meets OSCE Secretary General L.Zannier (photo by the OSCE)

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Oleg Kravchenko, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Michael Linhart, the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, the CEI Alternate Secretary General, Margot Klestil-Lefflor, Heads of a number of competent international organizaitions, delegations of the OSCE participating states, and representatives of academia participated in the  discussion.

In his speech, O.Kravchenko highlighted the experience accumulated by Belarus in the management of migration flows, inter alia in the development of national legislation and concluding agreements with its’ international partners.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus stressed the significant contribution of the Belarusian law enforcement agencies to the European security by countering illegal migration on the national level and through participation in joint operations within the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

OSCE/Vanja Ban

The Belarusian representative noted the contribution of our country to the discussion of migration issues in the framework of negotiations on the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. In this regard, O.Kravchenko mentioned the importance of involving in this process regional and sub-regional organizations having competence in the field of migration.

OSCE/Vanja Ban

During the event, the Belarusian side made a number of concrete recommendations aimed at enhancing cooperation at the international level and providing for synergies in the activities of international organizations in the migration area, including through strengthening national capacities of states and exchanging experience and best practices in the field of migration.

Bearing in mind that developing international partnerships is one of Belarus’ priorities in the CEI in 2017, O.Kravchenko spoke in favour of expanding cooperation between the CEI and the OSCE in the field of migration and other areas of mutual interest.

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