| OPENING STATEMENT BY SIR JOHN R. KAPUTIN, SECRETARY- GENERAL OF THE ACP GROUP OF STATES AT THE 2ND MEETING OF ACP MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND MOBILITY ISSUES ACP HOUSE, BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) Honourable Ministers, It is a great honour to welcome your august assembly for the second time at ACP House on the occasion of the 2nd Meeting of ACP Ministers in charge of Asylum, Migration and Mobility. More than ever before, issues related to the movement of people, being legal or illegal, is at the core of actuality and global debate. Images of people being forced to leave their countries of residence, being it for reasons of war, xenophobia, poverty, and natural disasters or environmental degradation are a reality and daily captured by the international media. Migrants are vulnerable targets of xenophobia, as presently manifested in the violence against foreigners in some of our ACP Countries. As a Group, we have the obligation to condemn these acts, and ensure that the rights of people are protected. At the same time, it must be understood that there are rights on both sides of the equator and, therefore, it is important that the rule of law is paramount. Indeed, we, as developing countries have to take an active role in shaping the debate on migration – it is our duty to erase the negative perceptions, and highlight the positive elements of migration. In doing so, we will combat against human insecurity and ensure that the rights of our peoples are safeguarded. We have a right to mobility – Migration fosters innovation. The ACP Group of States has adopted a global and multi-disciplinary approach to migration and development issues, and this is the only way forward to ensure that the positive and developmental elements stemming from migration can be further enhanced. Successful participation in the global debate on migration requires an on-going exchange of information and best practices among countries of origin, transit and destination, taking into account the ever-changing nature of human migration. Honourable Ministers, Your Meeting is at an appropriate time – to examine the implementation of previous engagements, further develop the migration and development nexus by focussing on the environment and human security, and to make appropriate preparations for participation in the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development, which will take place in Manila, The Philippines during October 2008. The 2nd Global Forum is an excellent opportunity for the ACP Group to continue to be at the forefront of the debate on migration, and to diffuse at the global stage our preoccupations on migration. The ACP Group, in striving to be one of the spokespersons of the developing world, should seize this opportunity, and I would like to assure you that the ACP Secretariat will do its utmost to ensure the participation of all our states in the Global Forum. Your technical officials have worked diligently over the last two days, and the result is a substantive draft Resolution, which you will further enrich and improve during your Meeting. The Resolution complements the 2006 Brussels Declaration, and as mentioned brings to the fore new concepts to consider within the framework of the global debate on Migration. You will also have the opportunity for substantive debate on important issues related to migration. To this end, 2 Round Tables have been scheduled to allow for focussed debate on the themes of “Migration and Development” and “Mobility and Human Security”. A major outcome and policy implementation instrument of your 1st Meeting, is the creation of the ACP Facility on Migration, funded under the 9th EDF to an amount of 25 million Euro. I am proud to announce officially that the Facility will enter fully into its implementation phase in a few days. It will, inter alia, establish an ACP Observatory on Migration, as requested by your 1st Meeting, and further ensure capacity building in terms of migration management in ACP States and Regions, as well as for the benefit of ACP civil society. This instrument is at your disposal, and I am committed to assist you to take full advantage of all the possibilities that will be offered. For a few years now, the staff of the ACP Secretariat and I have decided to move to Belgium to come and serve our States from Europe. This is an example of an unique opportunity given by mobility. Lets remind ourselves and our Partners in development that we will all, one day or another, be moving from our countries of origin for short or longer stays, even permanent ones for some of us. Policy orientations on migration should be mindful of this fact – migration is, in the fist place, about people. A people-centered approach in addressing migration issues is the only way forward. Honourable Ministers, Allow me to acknowledge the invaluable support the ACP Secretariat received from the European Centre for the Development of Policy Management (ECDPM) and the International Organisation for Migration IOM) in organising the Meeting. Furthermore, let me also acknowledge the following Governments/Organisations/Institutions that have provided background papers and assisted in various ways: -Government of the Philippines; Honourable Ministers, I wish you a successful meeting, and I thank you for your attention.
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