Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

For more than two decades, IOM has worked closely with
Governments in the region to implement a broad range of projects;
these include border management, labour migration, counter
trafficking and smuggling of persons, and migration and
development.

Therefore, it is particularly gratifying to participate in this
10th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asian Border Security
Initiative (CABSI).   

Central Asia is a region that encompasses several of the world's
top migration countries, most notably Afghanistan; and one of the
world's largest migration corridor -- that of Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan and other neighboring countries in Central Asia.

With this brief introduction let me mention just two of the
lessons that IOM has learned in supporting migration and border
management reform in the region. 

I. Comprehensive Approach

First, is the importance of a comprehensive approach to border
management, placing border management in the broadest possible
policy context.  This means, in practical terms, a "whole of
government" and a "whole of society" approach. 

Since the 1990s, IOM has given top priority to the enhancement
of integrated border management systems in the region.  We do
capacity building of national border guards, customs officials, and
immigration officers; we help governments to regulate the flow of
travelers, trade and goods, while deterring irregular movements,
people trafficking and smuggling. 

IOM has also opened two border management training centers in
the region — one in Dushanbe, and a second in Badakhshan.
These centers are helping to develop the operational capacity of
Tajik and Afghan border forces.  I was in both Tajikistan and
Afghanistan earlier this month and had a chance to see how well
this training is working.

A comprehensive approach at present involves recognition of the
mismatch between labour supply and labour demand.  This
mismatch is having at least two negative results: one, it leads to
irregular migration; and coupled with that, it increases the
propensity to make use of asylum procedures -- not because of a
genuine need for protection -- but to gain entry to countries and
access to their labour markets.

In the absence of legally sanctioned means of access to labour
markets, tightened visa regimes and closed borders, irregular
migration channels are perceived as the primary -- or only --
mechanism enabling the entry and stay of foreigners.

This in turn puts significant pressure on border management
responses.

Effective border management requires a "high road" scenario that
views migration as inevitable, necessary, and desirable.

II. Regionalism and Partnership 

A second lesson IOM has learned is that regional cooperation and
partnership are fundamental to realizing the full benefits of human
mobility.

This is why IOM is presently supporting some 15 regional
dialogues on migration worldwide.  These include the Colombo
Process, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, and the Bali Processes.

While each regional arrangement is unique, all share some
characteristics in common, for example:

• All of these regional groupings are state-owned; 
• They share similar values and views on migration. 
• They are informal arrangements, open, non-binding and
  transparent consultation and cooperation. 
• Finally, the best performing regional consultative mechanisms
  have had small, active secretariats -- usually IOM -- that help to
  facilitate communication. The low-profile secretariats do not drive
  the process; they accompany it and ensure continuity between formal
  sessions. 

Likewise, partnerships between and among states, civil society,
the private sector, and the international community are critical to
achieving our common goal of promoting security and human
development.  One of the many roles of partners is to think
creatively together about how their combined efforts can improve
the lives of those they are mandated to assist.

In this regard, IOM is working closely with all of the
governments and international agencies represented here today
– the OSCE, UNDP, the EU, FRONTEX, ICAO, ICMPD, EURASEC, the
CIS and others.  We must all do more—and we must work in
partnerships within a regional framework as the best means to
influence and shape the development prospects for Central Asia.

Conclusion

I have only touched briefly on the rich lessons learned from
IOM's work in the area of border management. 

In conclusion, let me summarize my two points:

We need to continue to promote balanced reforms in border
security -- reforms that take account of the need for enhancing
both trade in goods and service and also the benefits arising from
migration and human mobility. 

This is best pursued in partnerships within a comprehensive
regional framework.  For this, we need to formulate our border
management policies as an integral part of a "high road" scenario
-- a scenario that is based on a "whole of government"; a "whole of
society"; and a "regional perspective" partnership.