Vice-Minister of Foreign Relations and President Pro-Tempore of the Regional Conference on Migration, Mr. Miguel Angel Ibarra;

Vice-Ministers of Foreign Affairs;

Vice-Ministers of Interior and Migration Directors of the RCM;

Distinguished Ambassadors and Representatives of Member States and Observers to the Regional Conference on Migration;

Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat of the RCM;

Representatives of Civil Society;

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Let me start with a special word of thanks to our host, Vice-Minister Miguel Angel and the Government and people of Guatemala.

It is an honour to be present at this distinguished forum and I congratulate the RCM technical secretariat for the exceptional organization of this important meeting.

We gather at a difficult time – against the backdrop of the most serious global financial and economic crisis in 70 years.

The growing impact of the financial crisis on migration is a source of grave concern.

We are concerned about loss of migrants' jobs; a decrease in migrant remittances; a reduction in Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); and most seriously of all, the threat of stigmatization and scapegoating of migrants tending toward xenophobia.

Such a challenge demands our full collaboration – working within regional consultative mechanisms and pooling our energies – to better understand the challenge so that we can not only respond today, but be prepared for recovery tomorrow.

Economies will recover and migration will remain a reality in the lives of Nations for many years to come. The challenge will be how to manage migration in a humane and orderly way.

The Structural fundamentals of migration are unchanged: growing labour demands and deficits in industrialized countries due to ageing populations and dramatically declining birth rates, on the one hand and rapid population growth surplus labor, and the search for employment in much of the developing world, on the other hand.

I. RCM Innovations and Achievements

During the past several months, I have had the privilege of taking part in several regional consultative mechanism meetings, including the October 2007 meeting of the Puebla Process in Managua, and the September 2008 South American Conference on Migration in Montevideo.

I came away from these forums with a strong appreciation of the work of Regional Conference on Migration.

Again, at the recent Global Meeting of Chairs and Secretariats of RCPs in Bangkok, the Regional Conference on Migration-the Puebla Process- was acknowledged for its innovation and leading approaches to migration management.

To my mind, there are a number of concrete achievements that have resulted from the RCM's innovation that I would cite several with high regard:

• First, is the adoption of "Regional Guidelines for the assistance of unaccompanied children and adolescents in cases of repatriations." This initiative represents a major contribution to safeguarding the rights of migrants, particularly women and children.
• Second, are the gains to combat trafficking and smuggling within the RCM framework. IOM is proud of its work with Governments in the region to raise public awareness and combat this illicit trade.
• Third, is the "Permanent Fund for the Assistance of Voluntary Returns." Established by the RCM, with support from IOM, this regional mechanism has provided critical assistance to nearly 800 migrants in need.
• A fourth area is the RCM's contribution to keeping abreast of evolving labour migration dynamics. As new migration poles emerge in Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, and Mexico, the RCM is at the forefront of informing migration strategies and policies on rotational and circular migration schemes.

We can build on these achievements in other regions to demonstrate that if properly managed, migration needn't be a threat to be countered, but an opportunity to be seized.

The International Organization will continue to work hard to be your partner.

II. Thoughts on the Future: The Role of IOM

A conscious effort will be made to strengthen collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS). I have met twice with OAS Secretary General Insulza since taking office- once at the Summit of the Americas in Port Spain in April and more recently in Washington in June, on the occasion I took part in a meeting of the Joint Summit Working Group convened by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Expanding our cooperation with other RCM Observer organizations such as UNHCR, ECLAC, SEGIB, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Central American Integration System (SICA), will remain a strong priority.

So too, will be our efforts to advance Migration and Health – vital for economic productivity – and the promotion of migrants' rights and the contribution of migrants to economic and social prosperity.

I am extremely pleased with the appointment of a new IOM Deputy Director General, Ambassador Laura Thompson Chacón of Costa Rica.

I am sure that all of you feel, as I do, that the selection of a young and talented Latino-American Woman, successful Ambassador and current chair of UNHCR, among many other attributes, will provide IOM with a wealth of experience and insight into the Latin America and Caribbean region.

In conclusion your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, the RCM is a potent tool to advance national, bilateral and regional cooperation on migration management – as well as inform global cooperation – particularly during this truly challenging period of evolving migration dynamics complicated by the economic and financial crisis.

Unprecedented cooperation will be required to meet that challenge and to safeguard the benefits of migration for countries, communities and migrants themselves. Towards this goal, IOM pledges its full support.