GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES ON RESPONSES TO POPULATION DISPLACEMENTS IN CIS REGION

Press Release
REF/1144

GENERAL DEBATE CONTINUES ON RESPONSES TO POPULATION DISPLACEMENTS IN CIS REGION

GENEVA, 31 May (UN Information Service) -- The second day of a meeting on the effects of large, uncontrolled population shifts on the territory of the former Soviet Union was characterized by further calls to ensure the stability of democratic governments in the region and for an international response that would respect human rights and prevent future disruptive population flows.

Formally termed the "Regional Conference to Address the Problems of Refugees, Displaced Persons, Other Forms of Involuntary Displacement, and Returnees in the Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Relevant Neighbouring Countries", the meeting is jointly sponsored by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The purposes of the two-day Conference are to adopt a Programme of Action drafted over the last two years to cope with population displacements in the region, provide a forum for the countries involved to discuss population displacement and refugee problems in a humanitarian and non-political way, and to review the population flows now taking place.

Speakers noted that already some 9 million people have been caught up in often disorderly migrations in a variety of directions, spurred by such factors as war, ethnic conflicts and discrimination, ecological disasters, efforts to return to homelands forcibly abandoned during the Soviet era, and efforts, often illegal, to change countries of residence for economic reasons. Still greater numbers are potential migrants or refugees, the Conference's sponsors have warned, and future displacements could destabilize fragile governments and economies.

Statements were made by the representatives of Austria, Greece, China, Belgium (on behalf of the Benelux countries), Norway, Poland, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom and Romania.

Also speaking were representatives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Council of Europe, World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Statements

HARALD KREID (Austria) said his Government had made every effort to come to grips with the recurrent waves of refugees, both at the national level, by providing the necessary legal and administrative structures, and internationally, by strengthening cooperation with other countries and international legal instruments. The human suffering resulting from conflicts in the former Soviet Union had been enormous, yet only recently had the international community begun to become fully aware of its vital role in mitigating the effects of international and national displacement.

The environmental legacy of the former Soviet Union was still another factor of displacement giving rise to a significant number of ecological migrants, he said. That was an intolerable situation for the affected individuals and for society as a whole because of the vast negative implications for political stability, social cohesion and economic performance. The reintegration of refugees into the productive processes of the economy was not only a humanitarian priority. It also entailed considerable benefits for the economy as a whole. Thus, a proper handling of the issue of displaced persons went a long way towards assuring the social and economic development of the countries concerned.

GEORGES P. HELMIS (Greece) said the social and economic instability of the transition period being experienced by CIS countries, and the presence of violence in some of those countries, of disregard for humanitarian law, of ecological disasters, and difficulties of integration for some ethnic groups, were reaching the point where they were impeding economic progress in the region and threatening stability there and elsewhere. Regional and international security were based upon the strengthening of democratic institutions and on rational and human rights-based migration systems. International support was needed to accomplish that. Greece hoped that the relevant international organizations would continue to fully cooperate with the CIS countries in the implementation of the programme of action and would complement the strategy that had been developed.

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WU JIANMIN (China) said China, as a neighbour of several CIS countries, sympathized with them in the difficulties they were facing. The Conference's programme of action was a valuable combination of principles respecting human rights and guidelines for tackling the different population-displacement problems faced by CIS countries, but it was only a beginning. Without effective follow-up, the programme would remain a scrap of paper and the Conference would lose its significance. Priority should be given to eliminating the root causes of population displacements. It should be emphasized that social stability and economic development should be given great importance. China had learned from its own experience in recent years that stability and development were closely linked and mutually indispensable. Therefore, in tackling the various kinds of population displacement in the region, the international community should first of all help the relevant countries maintain political stability and promote economic development, and should respect the views of the governments concerned.

LODEWIJK WILLEMS (Belgium), speaking on behalf of the Benelux countries, said the Conference was the culmination of the process started with General Assembly resolution 49/173, which had called for the convening of a conference to address the problems of refugees, displaced persons, other forms of involuntary displacement and returnees in the countries of the CIS and neighbouring States. However, the success of the Conference would depend on the integrated strategy designed to resolve the problems identified. A programme of action and the operational strategy which would be led jointly by the UNHCR, the IOM and the OSCE would offer a general context and concrete opportunities to all actors in that process.

While many of countries of the CIS found themselves undergoing economic and political transformation, he said, the irregular movement of populations represented for them a new challenge, often politically delicate, always humanely unacceptable and hard to solve. The Benelux countries would continue to cooperate with all those organizations committed to finding solutions to the problem.

BJORN SKOGMO (Norway) said the strengthening of the institutional capacity of governments in the CIS region was a priority issue for achieving durable solutions to the problems of population displacement. Although the countries themselves bore primary responsibility for dealing with such displacements, international help was needed. The effective outcome of the Conference should be added protection for those caught in the maelstrom of history, as the breakup of the Soviet Union had created numerous urgent problems that countries struggling to establish democracy and market economies could not face alone.

The basis of any work should be a shared understanding and respect for democracy and human rights, he said. It was clear by their cooperation to date that the CIS countries held those values in common. The programme of

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action was principled and practical, but must be implemented, and that would be a demanding task for all. Norway felt that principles of non-refoulement should be respected by all countries and accorded to persons who could be classified as refugees. All States must respect the obligation to let that vital humanitarian principle apply to anyone in a refugee-like situation.

TOMASZ KNOTHE (Poland) said that in addition to the population movements created by the breakup of the Soviet Union, the different economic and social situations in the CIS countries had also led to economic migrations which often crossed territories and affected neighbouring countries. The mass scale transit migration of citizens from Asian and African countries had overlapped those processes. That transit migration was often the work of well-organized criminal groups operating in the CIS territories, from where the illegal transfer of people was increasingly occurring. It was extremely important that the programme of action was implemented following the conclusion of the Conference.

BEGDJAN NIYAZOV (Turkmenistan) said unregulated migration problems of refugees and human rights violations occurring in the CIS region were a cause of great concern. A series of circumstances was responsible, including economic situations, political instability, ecological and natural disasters, and long-standing differences among peoples. The results had been unprecedented and close cooperation was necessary for effective response. Preparations for the Conference had been extensive and encouraging, and had attracted an impressive number of participants. It was to be hoped that a new type of cooperation would come out of the process, one in which non- governmental organizations had a vital role to play, along with international organizations. The programme of action reflected the hopes of many nations and millions of people and should be adopted as quickly as possible. The document could provide an early-warning system for CIS countries and set out systems of cooperation.

HUMANYUN TANDAR (Afghanistan) said his country, as a neighbouring State to the CIS countries, was gravely affected by the consequences of population movements in the region. It was also the victim of foreign intervention in its internal affairs. What his country needed was economic cooperation with the neighbouring States and not the prolongation of conflicts aimed at destabilizing the Government. Afghanistan had been engaged in extending its cooperation with the neighbouring countries of the former Soviet Union. Several thousand refugees from those countries were still being hosted by Afghanistan. Refugees from central Asia had been enjoying Afghan hospitality since the last century. However, the conflict in neighbouring Tajikistan had affected Afghanistan militarily. Since Afghanistan shared borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, the flow of refugees from those countries had proved to be an economic burden to the Government. Those countries were also hosting refugees from Afghanistan.

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NECIP EGUZ (Turkey) said the Conference had already accomplished one of its aims: to put into full perspective the magnitude and complexity of population movements in the CIS region. Turkey believed that in the search for remedial and preventive measures, the Conference had taken a positive step in developing its programme of action. Primary responsibility for achieving the meeting's objectives lay with the CIS countries, and the spirit of cooperation among those nations which had emerged during the preparation for the Conference should be kept alive. Further bilateral contacts should be developed among the relevant countries. The regional character of the Conference also should be borne in mind. Some working definitions formulated during the preparatory process reflected the peculiarities of the region which made them applicable only within the CIS context. He emphasized that those terms did not have a universal or binding character.

MUNIR AKRAM (Pakistan) said the breakup of the Soviet Union had caused almost 9 million people to be uprooted from their homes, generating the largest movement of people the world had seen since the creation of Pakistan and India. Those unregulated movements had imposed great suffering on the concerned people. They also threatened the security and stability of the CIS countries and neighbouring States, which were entirely unequipped to deal with that massive human crisis. The draft programme of action before the Conference was comprehensive. It covered the causes of population displacements, the regulation of population flows, the care and maintenance of populations in a state of transition, repatriation and eventual reintegration. The document rightly emphasized the value of preventing population movements. It was hoped that the refugees from the CIS countries would soon be able to avail of the provisions contained in the programme of action and return in safety and honour to their homes.

ION CAPATINA (Republic of Moldova) said international cooperation was needed to regulate migration forces in the CIS region. The Conference was more than just an exchange of opinions, it was an opportunity to develop legal and political approaches that could resolve migration problems. Those problems were similar if not identical to problems encountered by countries in eastern and central Europe. Many illegal migrants were in transit to central and western Europe through his country, which was ready to continue to cooperate closely with relevant international organizations to improve its migration legislation and create migration institutions that met international standards. However, the country had economic difficulties. It was doing its best to reunite families and keep families together, and was struggling to cope with often disorderly labour migration. It had concluded bilateral migration treaties on specific problems with several neighbouring countries, and it wished to cooperate with other States in the region and create conditions favourable return.

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NIGEL WILLIAMS (United Kingdom) said preparations for the Conference, characterized by widespread participation and extensive cooperation, had been an international revelation. There had been patience, sensitivity, and determination. But the Conference was only one point along the route to solving migration problems in the region. Future challenges must be confronted with the same spirit of determination and cooperation. There could be no substitute for the responsibility of the countries involved in resolving their own problems, but there were many ways in which other countries could provide assistance, and the United Kingdom had and would continue to provide assistance. The United Kingdom hoped that those countries at the Conference that had not yet ratified human rights instruments relevant to refugees and migrants would soon be in a position to do so.

PAVEL GRECU (Romania) said his country fully endorsed any measures aimed at repatriating refugees. The problem of refugees had to deal with their repatriation or their local resettlement. Conflicts and population growth had prompted mass movements of people in search of peace and economic advantage. The international community should find effective mechanisms to control the flows of migration, which had created economic burdens for host countries. It was also time to find solutions to the mass illegal migration which had affected the social and economic structures of many countries. Romania was ready to cooperate with all those international organizations working to bring an end to the problem of displaced persons and refugees.

ROGER BOHNING, of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said his organization would have wished to see included in the programme of action the minimum standards for migrant workers established by the ILO in various international conventions. The ILO had supported the transition economies of CIS countries with numerous cooperation activities. It had further supported work in the field of international labour migration, extending cooperation to several CIS countries. Another focus was the network of informal international labour in CIS countries. The informal network reflected the growing patterns of labour migration in the area. Anarchic movements were being replaced by cross-national movements of workers characteristic of developed countries. That more normal labour migration was the focus of ILO's programmes for practical help.

The representative of the Economic Commission for Europe stated that the final document of the Conference would become an indispensable tool for future national action and regional cooperation concerning complex population movements. The Commission had been acutely aware of the complexity of those movements ever since they had emerged as one of the consequences of the geopolitical transformation of central and eastern Europe. As early as 1991, in anticipation of the need for a better understanding of those new developments, the Commission, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), had began exploring how United Nations bodies could best respond for the growing need for information and analysis of emerging

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migration issues and policies. In 1992, the Commission had launched a research and technical assistance projects on East-West migration concerned with data, analysis and policy conclusions. The network of participating national institutions represented a solid foundation for the continuing work of the Commission in that field.

PETER McDERMOTT, of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), said the massive population displacements in the region had been no more severely felt by women and children. Displacements could shatter children's sense of normalcy and damage their development. Often there was extreme hardship for them, and UNICEF hoped that sufficient focus would be given to the welfare of children, so that they would receive the priority they deserved. The rights of children and women might need to be more clearly delineated in the programme of action, including by reflecting the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The UNICEF supported the envisioned efforts to prevent future displacements, and stressed that shrinking social safety nets should be given greater resources, and social services given greater emphasis, he continued. The UNICEF had carried out a number of programmes covering a variety of fields in the CIS region, and recently had sharply increased its activities. An acute social crisis continued in many countries, with children and adolescents among the chief victims. It was imperative for the international community to address root causes of displacement and health matters that led to outbreaks of diseases to which displaced populations were especially vulnerable.

WAFIK GRAIS, of the World Bank, said the Bank viewed the issue of migration in the CIS region as intertwined with more general issues at the forefront of its mandate. Each of the CIS States faced unique circumstances involving migration. Some were losing thousands of skilled workers, others facing the arrival of thousands of migrants at a time when jobs and housing were already scarce. Migration from less-developed countries was complicated by a lack of proper border control, and some States had the burden of large groups of internally displaced persons and refugees from armed conflicts.

The World Bank was involved in building infrastructure in several CIS countries, he said. It also did thorough assessments of the causes of poverty in CIS countries, and assisted countries in setting up systems of social protection. In addition to its lending activities, the Bank provided technical assistance and economic policy advice, as a stable economic environment was a precondition for development that was successful and effective. While the Bank did intervene in cases of market failures, it still operated with the basic belief that allowing market forces to operate was the best policy for long-term growth and stability.

YVES SANDOZ, of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), said his organization contended in the field on a daily basis with armed

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conflict situations, which were one of the major causes of population displacements. Such movements were caused not only by open or incipient violence, but could themselves present potential danger of destabilization or even a factor of considerable importance in negotiations for settlement of disputes. The ICRC supported the main objectives of the Conference, and especially the inclusion of international humanitarian principles within the Conference's programme of action and of a call for teaching of humanitarian law. Appropriate training in the subject for armed forces was essential to ameliorating the conditions brought about by population displacements. Humanitarian law should be incorporated in military manuals and form an integral part of the instruction given to combatants to give them an "automatic humanitarian response" towards those protected by humanitarian law -- the wounded, prisoners, women, and children. It also was essential that vigorous measures be taken to ensure better protection for displaced persons.

STEPHEN DAVEY, of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said the contribution that national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies could make to resolving migration problems in the CIS region should not be forgotten in developing responses to situations in the area. The Federation and the relevant national societies were a source of knowledge and experience that could be pooled and drawn on, without wasting time or reinventing well-tried solutions. The twenty-sixth international conference of the societies held in Geneva last year, had specifically dealt with matters related to refugees and internally displaced persons, and resolutions from that meeting stressed the importance of respect for international humanitarian and refugee law.

He said the key to attaining common goals in that field was to ensure that host communities had the capacity to assist and deliver services to those who had been uprooted. The heart of the matter lay in developing a local, national, and regional capacity to deal with situations arising from population movements. Assistance to the people about whom the Conference was concerned must be closely modelled on assistance approaches to vulnerable individuals and groups generally.

JOHN MURRAY, of the Council of Europe, said the Council had actively participated in preparations for the Conference, and considered that the programme of action was an extremely useful point of departure. Its true value, however, would depend on implementation and follow-up activities. The inclusion in the document of full respect for international human rights standards was laudable. It also was encouraging that all States were encouraged to accede to human rights instruments. Such instruments had proved their ability to contribute to democratic stability and economic development. Observance of such international obligations was necessary for such progress as it was not enough simply to accede to the instruments. The Council was

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strongly supporting development of democratic institutions in several CIS States. It would observe with interest the follow-up process to the Conference and would continue to be actively involved with the work begun by it.

BRONEK SZYNALKI, of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the Programme was committed to working with its member States in the fight against hunger and was convinced that there was no greater shame than the continued existence of hunger among millions of people in a world of plenty. Among the numerous difficulties faced by refugees and displaced people, food insecurity remained a key issue. Food security was about people, not foodstuffs. It was about a life free of the risks of starvation or hunger, which, by all accounts, was omnipresent among so many people in the CIS. The Programme had been responding to emergency situations in the CIS since early 1993, when ethnic conflicts broke out in the Caucasus and in central Asia. Over 2 million persons, comprising refugees, displaced persons, returnees and other vulnerable groups, had received relief food in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Tajikistan, and in the republics neighbouring Chechnya.

BERNARD FERY, of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV), said the organization was carrying out a number of activities in the CIS region, all related to the Conference's programme of action. Programmes were under way in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan, the Caucasus region, Georgia and Tajikistan. Efforts focused on areas such as the integration of displaced populations and the cost-effective use of existing financial resources. The UNV was looking forward to increased cooperation with countries and organizations in meeting the goals set out by the Conference.

JAVIER PEREZ DE VEGA, of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), said the Conference constituted a most significant and timely step in the elaboration of a long-term strategy to deal with migration flows and mitigate the disruptive effects of large population movements in a key area of the world. The FAO, which focused its work primarily on ensuring food security for the world as a whole, greatly welcomed the emphasis placed in the programme of action on human rights and fundamental freedoms. The organization was convinced that the right to food represented the most basic of human rights, one on which other rights depended. The most fundamental form of freedom was freedom from hunger.

ALAN DOSS, of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said the Programme had been present in the CIS countries for years and was well-embarked on programmes to promote development and aid in humanitarian situations. It was important to help all involuntarily-displaced persons, so that none were left out and so that any tensions present were not increased. It was also important to create viable mechanisms and institutions leading to sound government.

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International legal instruments and principles relating to refugees and displaced persons and to human rights should and must be respected, he said. The UNDP programmes were also aimed at aiding parliamentary development, creating a participatory environment in society, and establishing various forms of institutional support. Efficient national institutions for implementing and enforcing humanitarian laws were essential for lasting progress. Many programmes carried out in the CIS were focused on training and retraining of officials and authorities in humanitarian standards.

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