Moderator, Ms. Michele Klein -Solomon
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,

1. Allow me first of all to thank the International Organization for Migration and the Center for Migration Studies for convening and inviting me hear to participate in this Panel on the Key findings, recommendation and implications of the UN High-Level Dialogue and Brussels Forum. We welcome the convening of this conference as a kick off event to begin the discussion on the important issue of international migration and development for the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly.

2. In 2005, the High-Level Summit of the General Assembly that met in New York further acknowledged the important nexus between international migration and development and the need to deal with the challenges and opportunities that migration presents to countries of origin, destination and transit, recognizing that international migration carries with it both advantages and disadvantages.
 
3. The state led initiative, the first global Forum on Migration and Development which took place in Brussels last July 2007 and the second Global Forum schedule for Manila in October this year is one of the outcomes of the from the High Level Dialogue that has brought significant attention to relevant government bodies and also increased the collaboration amongst relevant officials at the national level and international level.

4. The issue of international migration and development is a complex issue and therefore there is a need to approach it in a holistic and comprehensive manner. To this end, the need for a more result-oriented dialogue to accommodate divergent interests has become more visible. In this regard, we would emphasize the need to build partnerships and to ensure coordinated action to develop the necessary capacities of developing countries in addressing these challenges.   Thus an International commitment to continue the dialogue and cooperation, particularly to support developing countries is necessary.    We believe that conducting this dialogue within the framework of the United Nations will contribute to the strengthening of the multilateral system and promote a balanced and comprehensive approach to this rather complex issue.

5. International migration is linked to a variety of elements; it both affects and is affected by the development process. The effects of international migration on economic and social development highlight the complex relationship between underdevelopment, poverty, social exclusion and migration.  In pursuing our goals to meet the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), we must intensify our focus in addressing foreign direct investment, trade, foreign aid, and debt relief so as to reverse underdevelopment, poverty and skills flight.  Meeting the MDGs is central to eradicating poverty and unemployment, placing developing countries on a path of sustainable development, reducing recourse to forced and irregular migration and thereby facilitating migration out of choice.

6. When debating migration we should acknowledge the very important contribution made by migrants to the development of countries of destination. We should endorse migration policies that empower migrants.  Such policies should enable migrants to capitalize on entrepreneurship programmes through micro-finance and simultaneously enhance their role in the Diaspora.  There is also the need to further consider and analyze how the migration of highly skilled persons and those with advanced education impacts on the development efforts of developing countries.
 
7. There is a need for the respective roles and responsibilities of stakeholders regarding migration policymaking, management and development planning must be clearly defined.   Capacity in migration policy formulation and migration management should be strengthened, and coherence must be pursued within and between states and also in the formulation of social and economic policies and migration policies.

8. Here I would like to emphasize again that this dialogue that we are engaged in cannot be the last word on the challenges of international migration and development.  We would need to continue with this dialogue within the multilateral context because it is too important not to have it.

I thank