FM Alert, Vol II, No. 46

Reply-To: [email protected]
Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1998 11:59:41 +0200 (EET)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: FM Alert, Vol II, No. 46

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Paulette Layton <[email protected]>

FM Alert, Vol II, No. 46


FM Alert, Vol II, No. 46
November 20, 1998
 
BISHKEK MEETING EXAMINES CENTRAL ASIAN DISPLACEMENTS AND NGOS
 
Nongovernmental organization (NGO) leaders, diplomats and academics
explored ways to improve the response to population displacements in
Central Asia at a November meeting in Kyrgyzstan. Approximately 75
participants agreed on the need for continued efforts to strengthen
the NGO sector. Such action would help foster civil society and the
rule of law in the region. Discussions focused on implementation of
the Program of Action, adopted at the 1996 CIS Conference on
migration-related issues. Several participants called for the
strengthening of legal frameworks governing migration as a way to
improve CIS conference implementation. Regional issues receiving
particular attention included the return of refugees from Afghanistan
and Tajikistan, and the dilemmas confronting Russian speakers in
Central Asia. In addition, participants heard a report on efforts to
form a CIS-wide network of local NGOs working on migration-related
issues, an endeavor that has received support from the Forced
Migration Projects. According to FMP Director Arthur C. Helton: "The
time is right to invest in the emerging independent sector. A wide
variety of NGO activities in the region should be encouraged,
including this evolving network of NGOs working on migration issues."
The meeting, held November 3-6 in Bishkek, was sponsored by the Forced
Migration Projects of the Open Society Institute, the Soros Foundation
Kyrgyzstan, the Central Asian Forum and the Bureau of Human Rights and
the Rule of Law. 
(For Background information see FM Alerts of October 30 and 23).
 

OSCE AND UNHCR AGREE TO ENHANCE COOPERATION
 
Aiming to achieve "maximum synergy," the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) have signed an October 1998 memorandum of
understanding to enhance cooperation. In particular, OSCE and UNHCR
pledge to establish "regular channels of exchanging information both
at headquarters level, as well as between field operations." The two
sides also said they would consider the undertaking of joint
assessment missions, on an ad hoc basis, "with a view to identifying
areas of potential cooperation and enhancing their early warning
capabilities." The memo was signed by Giancarlo Aragona OSCE Secretary
General and Sadako Ogata, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. An
OSCE official said the memo is a reflection of existing reality, in
which the two organization have engaged in close cooperation in a
number of trouble spots in Europe. The official cited Croatia as an
area where OSCE and UNHCR work closely together to promote human
security and durable solutions for the displaced. Both organizations
aim to utilize the memo to integrate the response to the humanitarian
crisis in Kosovo, enhancing the impact of humanitarian assistance.
Forced Migration Projects Director Arthur C. Helton praised the memo:
"This is a very promising development. Comprehensive approaches are
needed to address the causes of humanitarian crises, and this new
arrangement between OSCE and UNHCR should encourage more comprehensive
international responses."
 

FMP DIRECTOR TO DELIVER LECTURES IN MOSCOW ON US IMMIGRATION AND
REFUGEE LAW
 
Forced Migration Projects (FMP) Director Arthur C. Helton will deliver
a series of lectures in Moscow on immigration and refugee law policy
in the United States. The lectures will be read December 14-18 at
Moscow's Institute for State and Law. An additional lecture on Russian
migration and immigration practices, will be delivered by Moscow-based
FMP consultant Natalia Voronina, "The movement of people is an
important aspect of globalization." Helton said. "The lectures will
provide a unique opportunity for Russian law students to compare
Russian and US practices, hopefully providing a deeper understanding
and appreciation for legal frameworks." Helton's first lecture will
provide an overview on US immigration practices. It will touch on
constitutional provisions concerning migration and immigration, as
well as outline the responsibilities of various US government agencies
for facilitating legal immigration. The second lecture will explore
the various types of immigration categories, including a discussion of
visa requirements. The third lecture will focus on admission
procedures, paying particular attention to the hearing process for
those subject to removal. The fourth lecture will concern the removal
of aliens, examining the grounds for deportation. The fifth lecture
will discuss refugees and the acquisition of citizenship.
 

For more information contact:

The Forced Migration Projects
400 West 59th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10019
tel: (212)548-0655
fax: (212) 548-4676
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.soros.org/migrate.html

-- 
==============================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe

Submissions: [email protected]  
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected] 
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==============================================================