IOM Director General William Lacy Swing addressed the 17th Meeting
of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, which opened today in
Athens.

The two-day meeting brings together ministers and
representatives from the OSCE's 56 participating States alongside
policy makers and high-level experts to discuss linkages between
migration management and economic, social and environmental
policies to the benefit of stability and security in the OSCE
region. 

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"/jahia/Jahia/media/speeches/cache/offonce?entryId=24976" title=
"">Migration
management and its linkages with economic, social and environmental
policies to the benefit of stability and security in the OSCE
region

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"http://publications.iom.int/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=503"
title="">Climate
Change, Environmental Degradation and Migration: Addressing
Vulnerabilities and Harnessing Opportunities

In his keynote address, Director General Swing underlined the fact
that migration in the OSCE and beyond should be viewed as an
opportunity and not simply as a challenge or a threat.  

He added that a greater focus on migrants' social and economic
contribution to host countries was a key element in the management
of migration.

Looking at the impact of the current global financial crisis on
migration, he added that greater solidarity between countries of
origin and destination was needed and that migrants should be seen
as part of the solution, not the problem.

"The global economic and financial crisis is already leading
some Governments to think about migration in counter-cyclical
terms. Yet legal migrants are part of the solution, not the
problem, in overcoming the current global
recession."  

Discussions will also focus on the development impact of
migration and on links between environmental degradation and
migration.

The Economic and Environmental Forum is the main annual event
central to the OSCE's economic and environmental activities. The
event gives political impetus to dialogue in this area and
contributes to recommendations and follow-up activities.

The OSCE area is host to more than 90 million migrants, almost
half of the total numbers of migrants around the world, with the
Russian Federation, the European Union and the United States
attracting many migrants from all parts of the world.

For more information, please contact:

Pier Rossi-Longhi

Tel: + 43 664 4148814

E-mail: "mailto:PROSSILONGHI@iom.int">PROSSILONGHI@iom.int