Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ALGIERS657
2006-04-10 16:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Algiers
Cable title:
MEETING OF AU EXPERTS ON MIGRATION HELD IN ALGIERS
how-toVZCZCXRO8269 PP RUEHAG RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHDU RUEHFL RUEHGI RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMR RUEHPA RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAS #0657 1001657 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 101657Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0823 INFO RUEHZO/AFRICAN UNION COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0019 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 1266 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
UNCLAS ALGIERS 000657
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SMIG PHUM AG XA
SUBJECT: MEETING OF AU EXPERTS ON MIGRATION HELD IN ALGIERS
REF: ALGIERS 496
EXPERTS SEEK COMMON AU POSITION
--------------------------------
UNCLAS ALGIERS 000657
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SMIG PHUM AG XA
SUBJECT: MEETING OF AU EXPERTS ON MIGRATION HELD IN ALGIERS
REF: ALGIERS 496
EXPERTS SEEK COMMON AU POSITION
--------------
1. Mandated by the January Arab League Summit in Khartoum,
the Commission of the African Union (AU) convened a meeting
of migration and development experts in Algiers April 3-5.
The participants addressed the major themes of security and
stability, human rights, development, human resources, the
African brain drain, and the growing number of migrants. The
objective was to prepare a common African position for the
Africa-Europe Ministerial Conference on Migration and
Development, planned for June.
AGREE ON NEED FOR COOPERATION TO STOP ILLEGAL MIGRATION
-------------- --------------
2. The experts agreed that any AU common position on
migration and development should aim to curb clandestine
immigration, while promoting the human rights and dignity of
migrants. Regional and international cooperation and shared
responsibility among the countries of origin, transit, and
destination would be required for success. The action plan
adopted by the participants at the meetings in Algiers
invited African states which have not done so to adhere to
the African Peer Review Mechanism as proof of their
willingness to improve significantly their performance on
migration issues and encouraged them to undertake awareness
campaigns, especially in areas with high migration potential,
on the risks and dangers of clandestine immigration.
ALGERIAN FM: MIGRATION A MAJOR CHALLENGE
--------------
3. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Algerian FM
Bedjaoui said the high-level participation of almost all
states of the AU underscored the importance that African
countries placed on migration and development issues.
Migration, legal or illegal, was a major challenge for all
African states, individually and collectively. Many if not
most of our countries, the Minister said, have become
countries of "origin, transit, and destination" for illegal
immigrants. While migration flows to the U.S. and Europe
were increasing, they remained relatively limited compared to
intra-African migration, he noted. Bedjaoui added that
fighting illegal migration flows, especially human
trafficking networks, was a pressing necessity for African
nations and the entire international community. He
attributed the migration flows to poverty, unemployment, the
lack of opportunity, rural exodus, armed conflict, political
instability, and "too frequently, bad governance."
ALGERIA NIXES COOPERATION WITH MOROCCO
--------------
4. While calling for a "common strategy" against illegal
migration "in the interests of migrants first, concerned
countries next, and more generally the international
community," Minister Delegate for African and Maghreb Affairs
Abdelkader Messahel told the press Algeria would not support
the initiative of Morocco, a non-AU member, to organize
similar meetings. Algeria believed working within the AU
framework was essential. Any other solution would be
temporary and counter-productive, said Messahel, who made
clear that Algeria would not attend July meetings in Rabat.
ERDMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL SMIG PHUM AG XA
SUBJECT: MEETING OF AU EXPERTS ON MIGRATION HELD IN ALGIERS
REF: ALGIERS 496
EXPERTS SEEK COMMON AU POSITION
--------------
1. Mandated by the January Arab League Summit in Khartoum,
the Commission of the African Union (AU) convened a meeting
of migration and development experts in Algiers April 3-5.
The participants addressed the major themes of security and
stability, human rights, development, human resources, the
African brain drain, and the growing number of migrants. The
objective was to prepare a common African position for the
Africa-Europe Ministerial Conference on Migration and
Development, planned for June.
AGREE ON NEED FOR COOPERATION TO STOP ILLEGAL MIGRATION
-------------- --------------
2. The experts agreed that any AU common position on
migration and development should aim to curb clandestine
immigration, while promoting the human rights and dignity of
migrants. Regional and international cooperation and shared
responsibility among the countries of origin, transit, and
destination would be required for success. The action plan
adopted by the participants at the meetings in Algiers
invited African states which have not done so to adhere to
the African Peer Review Mechanism as proof of their
willingness to improve significantly their performance on
migration issues and encouraged them to undertake awareness
campaigns, especially in areas with high migration potential,
on the risks and dangers of clandestine immigration.
ALGERIAN FM: MIGRATION A MAJOR CHALLENGE
--------------
3. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Algerian FM
Bedjaoui said the high-level participation of almost all
states of the AU underscored the importance that African
countries placed on migration and development issues.
Migration, legal or illegal, was a major challenge for all
African states, individually and collectively. Many if not
most of our countries, the Minister said, have become
countries of "origin, transit, and destination" for illegal
immigrants. While migration flows to the U.S. and Europe
were increasing, they remained relatively limited compared to
intra-African migration, he noted. Bedjaoui added that
fighting illegal migration flows, especially human
trafficking networks, was a pressing necessity for African
nations and the entire international community. He
attributed the migration flows to poverty, unemployment, the
lack of opportunity, rural exodus, armed conflict, political
instability, and "too frequently, bad governance."
ALGERIA NIXES COOPERATION WITH MOROCCO
--------------
4. While calling for a "common strategy" against illegal
migration "in the interests of migrants first, concerned
countries next, and more generally the international
community," Minister Delegate for African and Maghreb Affairs
Abdelkader Messahel told the press Algeria would not support
the initiative of Morocco, a non-AU member, to organize
similar meetings. Algeria believed working within the AU
framework was essential. Any other solution would be
temporary and counter-productive, said Messahel, who made
clear that Algeria would not attend July meetings in Rabat.
ERDMAN