Secretary-General's press conference [unofficial transcript]

Distinguished members of the media, it's a great pleasure to have this opportunity, during my participation in the 2nd Forum on Migration and Development, to be with you.

I am honoured to be in Manila today and to have taken part in the opening of the 2nd Global Forum on Migration and Development, which brings together more than 163 countries across the globe to address the very important issues surrounding migration, including understanding and developing its benefits.

I thank the Government and people of the Philippines for hosting this Forum, amid the emerging harsh economic difficulties throughout the world.

Today, there is tremendous appreciation for the benefits that migration brings to both countries of origin and countries of destination, and to migrants themselves who can be the engine in advancing development and a positive force for cross-cultural understanding.

We know that human mobility can make our economies more efficient, if the right skills reach the right places at the right time. The challenge is, therefore, how to best draw the greatest possible development benefits from it.

We also know that migration can and should be a tool to help us out of the economic crisis, and it is only with the cooperation of the policymakers and politicians, that this will be possible. The underlying forces that have led 200 million people to cross international borders will continue, and we also must confront the challenges and fears it can generate. It is this context that the protection of the rights of migrants assumes.

Much has been accomplished since the idea of the Forum was born just over three years ago, on the way to the High-Level Dialogue conducted by the General Assembly in 2006.

Today, the need for labour migration is self evident and we can build on those exchanges by discussing how to protect the rights of migrants, foster opportunities for future migration, and improve policy coherence through partnerships.

This Global Forum, bringing together stakeholders to promote new ways of making migration work for development, can play a crucial role as it aims to foster cooperation so that we can draw the most from the phenomenon of human mobility. I look forward to the outcomes of this second meeting.

The partnership and mutual commitments enshrined in this Forum exist to support our cooperative work towards development. Together, we can fulfil our common vision of becoming a free, secure, stable and prosperous world.

Finally, I would like to thank the Government and the people of the Philippines for the warm welcome they have extended for my visit and to the United Nations as a whole.

I am extremely grateful to the Philippines for the strong support to the United Nations in many areas, including UN peacekeeping. Today, nearly 700 Philippine military and police personnel are in the field, serving the cause of peace. I am also very pleased at the new offer to send an additional 100 police officers to Darfur.

The Philippines has been a very engaged partner in international affairs and I look forward to further strengthening the already close relations between the Philippines and the United Nations. The United Nations counts on the Philippines as an enduring partner in facing ever-more complex global challenges.

I would be happy to take your questions after remarks by Undersecretary Hon. Conejos.

Maraming salamat po.

Q: Can you envision how strongly will the financial crisis affect the migrant workers? What specific measures would you recommend for UN agencies or the receiving worker states to take?

SG: I'm deeply concerned about the possible impact by which this international financial crisis may affect the overall United Nations development goals and agenda, including the Millennium Development Goals, food crisis, our common efforts to address climate change. Migration will also be affected. We have seen already some reverse outpouring from the countries of destination. This is worrisome.

My message as the Secretary-General has been quite clear and strong to the world leaders. I welcome and support all the initiatives and measures which leaders will take, and which they have taken so far. But at the same time, I would strongly urge the world leaders, policymakers –particularly developed countries and the donors –not to lose sight of the challenges, of the sufferings of those developing countries, particularly when it comes to the poorest of the poor people, and those migrant workers whose social and political status may be unstable. Their rights should be protected and they should be given due respect as would be given to any human being in the countries of destination. The United Nations will continue to work very closely with many industrialized countries, world leaders, to ensure that this negative impact will not affect all the major challenges of our developing countries, including the issue of migration. I'm going to participate in the G-20 summit meeting on 15 November in Washington D.C. and my message will be the same. Thank you.

Q: Good morning, Sir. The theme of the forum is “protecting and empowering migrants for development.” How will UN –or this forum –ensure that this will be done, especially for migrants who are most vulnerable, like the undocumented ones?

SG: This morning I had a breakfast consultation meeting with the Troika, Undersecretary Conejos and the Vice Minister of Greece, and also the representative from Belgium. I told them that the theme of this second Global Forum –protecting and empowering the migrants for development –is very timely and pertinent, considering the current global financial crisis and multiple challenges, multiple crises we are now facing. The second Global Forum in Manila, I sincerely hope will provide good guidelines and good recommendations for the Member States of the United Nations and also participating countries in the Global Forum, to ensure the rights of migrants who are regarded often as the most vulnerable in the societies of destination. I would also urge those countries who accommodate many migrants, they should ensure a smoother domestic legislation and political and social framework to protect and promote the human rights of migrant workers. As Secretary-General, you have my full commitment on this and that is exactly why I have been participating since the inception of this Global Forum. Thank you.

Q: Good morning, Sir. You said in your speech earlier that the crisis has already resulted in net outflows of migrants in some countries and also in declining remittances. Please give some examples and also outline some of geographical areas that are of most concern to you.

SG: I can answer in general, but I am sure that Undersecretary Conejos, representing the Philippine government, must have been feeling this impact. To date we have seen some outflows, particularly in areas like construction and tourism, where mostly migrant workers have taken part. When you are facing these economic difficulties, it is quite a natural tendency to reduce budgets and spending, and this will immediately affect the lesser-priority areas where migrant workers have taken part. This will affect all or most of the developing countries that have been sending many migrant workers. Maybe at this time I may ask Undersecretary Conejos to answer the specific examples on this.

Conejos: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary-General. The President of the Philippines has directed that all relevant agencies prepare contingency plans to try to cushion the impact of the current financial crisis on our overseas Filipino workers. Our planning depends on the way we perceive the effects. It would be different in terms of sectors and countries, as the Secretary-General said. Most likely the most affected sector would be the domestic workers sector because that is where the household would start. The financial crisis would impact them directly.

Most of our workers, for example, in the Middle East, where we have about close to a million workers in the construction business, we believe that the construction projects will go on at least for some time. We hope there can be no recession or if there is any, it would not be prolonged. So in that sense our construction workers would be quite insulated.

We received a report from our consulate in Hong Kong, for example. Based on the past food crisis that we faced here in Asia, first during the 1997 financial economic crisis, and also the SARS crisis in 2003, the response of the Hong Kong government was either to increase the minimum wage for our domestic workers or introduce a freeze in the minimum allowable wage for domestic workers. We believe that in this particular case, the Hong Kong government will try to freeze existing wages. So we are trying to monitor, Mr. Secretary-General, the conditions in all of these countries, and trying to tailor-fit our contingency plans based on country-specific recommendations. Thank you very much.

SG: Maybe my Special Representative on Migration, Mr. [Peter] Sutherland, can give you other examples.

Sutherland: I will make a couple of observations. First of all, it is quite clear that the recession that is already evident is primarily to be found in the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries in the northern hemisphere, but it is spreading, and the global GDP growth is certainly reducing in terms of the estimates for every 12 months, almost on a monthly basis, by significant figures.

The effect in the European Union is already evident, particularly on the construction sector as a result of which many of those who have availed of the free movement of workers, which is assured by the enlargement of the European Union, are already returning home. But statistics with regard to return of Polish workers, for example, from the western part of Western Europe, is already evident. We will now have a situation, where the local economy which has been sustained largely by the growth rate of the [inaudible], will not be sustained to the same degree as previously. The best estimates, for example, of Chinese growth, seem to be reducing. It will still, however, be maintained at the level far ahead of that of the other OECD countries. So I think that it is inevitable that the credit crunch will have its primary effect on investments in property development. But it will have a broader effect in terms of the restricted credit for investment in job creation, and therefore it is inevitable that the effects of the credit crunch will focus to a significant degree on migration.

Q: Good morning, Mr. Secretary-General. In the last two days, the civil society has been recommending that, probably in the next meeting in 2009, there will be a more formal discussion of migration as an issue under the UN system. In your opinion, is a more formal and binding structure needed on migration? And what particular Millennium Development Goals are you saying will be affected by this financial crisis?

SG: This Global Forum has started, as I said in my earlier remarks, in an informal and non-binding and practical manner. This process will continue for the time being, considering certain sensitivities shared by certain important Member States of the United Nations General Assembly. But, in general, there is widely shared support for this process. I think we have started the proper process by launching the Global Forum on Migration and Development. We are going to meet in Athens. I understand that there are two or three more countries in line to host this meeting. I hope that while we continue this process and build upon these recommendations and guidelines and frameworks, comfortable to all the Member States of the General Assembly, in such a case, I can expect that we will be able to have more formal discussions within the UN General Assembly framework.

On the impact of the financial crisis on the Millennium Development Goals, rather than specifying any particular pillar among the eight pillars, I am concerned that the overall MDG implementation process may be affected. But that depends upon the political will and priority of the leaders of donor countries, developed countries. That is why I have been urging the leaders of the developed countries not to lose the political will. This political will, political priority, will be very important. In fact, even at the start of this financial crisis, when I convened the High-level Meeting on the MDGs during the UN General Assembly on 25 September, I was very much encouraged by the new commitments and strong political will demonstrated by the leaders of the world. On that day, we were able to mobilize $[16.5 billion] in new commitments. I sincerely hope that the leaders will implement and keep their promises, including the one they have already made in 2005 at the Gleneagles G8 summit meeting. At that time, the G8 leaders had pledged $50 billion a year continuously for ten years. I hope, including all of these, that developed countries should keep their promises so that all the developing countries can march together towards the goal of meeting the targets of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

Q: Do you want to keep the Global Forum on Migration and Development outside the ambit of the United Nations? Why or why not?

SG: I think I have answered your question already. So I hope you will regard that I have already answered this.

Sutherland: Well, the Secretary-General has fully explained this. What the Secretary-General has been so active in supporting is a dialogue that otherwise would not take place but for the informal, flexible and practical type of discussion, which is taking place. That is why it is taking place with the express support of the United Nations. It is the Secretary-General's commitment, and that of his predecessor, that has legitimized this process. It is his presence here today that has been crucial in the Global Forum, having the reality which it has. But the Global Forum is about practical steps, not the usual rhetoric around migration issues, but practical implementation. One point that the Secretary-General has been very supportive of is the creation, for the first time in every country in the world virtually, every one that is represented here, of a focal point –that is, one senior person who brings together all the different departments dealing with migration and development. So it's not merely a question for the Department of Justice, which is normally in control of the borders, but also bringing together all of the different services of the State that have an interface with migration - from health to education to development itself. That is the practical implementation of a practical process. And as the Secretary-General said, we of course, within the United Nations framework and the Secretary-General himself, is anxious that this UN character be emphasized and developed but it can only be developed at the pace agreed by a Member State-led group of nations. And it is the Member States themselves therefore that will determine the next step in the progression, which has already been formidably successful, thanks to the Secretary-General's support.

Q: Good morning, Sir. It's good that you mention practical steps. What are the scenarios that the United Nations are perceiving in terms of the effects of the financial crisis on migrants and what are the steps we are prepared to take should the economic crisis worsen?

SG: In addressing this financial crisis, world leaders have been engaging themselves and will continue to engage among themselves, as well as together with the leaders of the major developing countries. Within that framework I am confident that the concerns and challenges of migration issues will be addressed. First and foremost, at this time, it is very important to restore the confidence and trust of the financial market. With our continuing efforts to contain the further spread of this impact coming from the financial crisis then we will be able to look at all the other aspects by which we can promote the major UN development goals. Migration will be one of them, and climate change, the Millennium Development Goals and global food and energy issues. Those are all overall priority matters that we are now working for.

Q: While the global economic slowdown is expected naturally to lower demand for migrant labour, are you seeing any emergence of artificial barriers to migrant flows? In general, what is your assessment of the risk of the rise of tougher rules on migration as our recession deepens?

SG: Even with or without this financial crisis, I suspect that there will be a continuing flow of migration, and it is the 200 million people who really try to pursue the better working conditions and life conditions in other parts of the world. That is a human desire, and a very natural economic phenomenon. Therefore rather than limiting or constraining this artificially through national legislation or framework, it would be beneficial for overall economic exchanges and cooperation and human mobility to support and create favorable conditions, as much as they can be acceptable and accommodated in those countries, for migrations. If there is too much restriction or constraint, I'm afraid that this migration may be going through illegal channels, which may create more problems in integration into the socio-economic field. That is what we have experienced, that's what tells our experiences in the past. That is why we are taking this Global Forum dialogue process. I hope that this second Global Forum in Manila will really look at the very practical aspects of all the methods pertaining to migration issues. Thank you very much.

Q: Mr. Secretary, please correct me if the premise of the question is wrong. Right now in your country there is a move that has reached the level of the Supreme Court where foreign workers can join unions. Do you think it will be better if this is replicated worldwide and would your office support it even if it is not within the UN structure?

SG: First of all, I do not represent any individual country, even though I am a Korean citizen. I come from South Korea. But I'm not in a position to talk about domestic laws or situations of any particular country. I hope you will understand. But as much as I can tell you concerning how the Republic of Korean Government has been doing, is that they have made the national legislation, domestic legislation, to protect the well-being and social status of immigrants and migrant workers working in Korea, so that they can benefit equal rights in terms of their socio-economic and well-being status. And this is what I understand.

As for the United Nations, I know that this belongs to my broader responsibility and role to promote better conditions in all the Member States of the United Nations for any foreigners living in any Member State of the United Nations in terms of their socio-economic well-being or political and legal status that will be applied to most of the migratory workers and immigrants and even sometimes including many illegal, undocumented workers. The human rights of all human beings should be promoted and protected. This is a very fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter. With that principle, I will continue to work to make better conditions for this migration. This is what this Global Forum is now doing and we will continue to work on that. Thank you very much.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, this is on another topic - about [the Democratic Republic of the] Congo. There is a steady deterioration of the security situation in Congo with the advance of the rebels to Goma and there have been some calls for additional troops, because the current peacekeeping force is spread thin for the upsurge in fighting. What further steps will the United Nations do to try to stabilize the situation there?

SG: I am deeply concerned about the current situation which is now happening in the DRC. Even this morning, in Manila, I have been talking with many people who want to address this issue. I have been discussing this matter with the leaders of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, President [Joseph] Kabila, and President [Paul] Kagame of Rwanda and European and African leaders, and I'm going to do that even this afternoon, to address this issue.

Now first and foremost, this fighting must be stopped and I'm deeply concerned about these civilian casualties as well as the increasing number of internally displaced persons. The United Nations, through MONUC [the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo], has been doing their best to, first of all, disengage these forces from each other. Unfortunately, the situation in Goma is worrisome and there were some attacks, even against the United Nations mission, by civilian people. I'm going to concentrate in the coming few days, first of all, to urge the leaders to stop fighting and to reconcile between the leaders of the two countries, between DRC and Rwanda. I understand that at this time the European leaders and the American Government and senior officials are going to visit Rwanda and Congo and I have dispatched two senior advisors [Edmond Mulet and Haile Menkerios] both respectively to DRC and [Rwanda] to talk to the Presidents of both countries. And I'm doing my best to address this issue.

Q: Mr. Secretary-General, I just want to get your comment on the proposal for a regional summit on Zimbabwe to resolve the political development.

SG: I didn't mean to monopolize all the questions. I think these questions should have been shared through a very reasonable division of work. (laughter)

For your specific questions, again, the democratization process of Zimbabwe has been the source of grave concern of the international community. We have been urging President [Robert] Mugabe and Mr. [Morgan] Tsvangirai to agree on power sharing as soon as possible. As for the United Nations, as myself, as Secretary-General, I have been discussing this matter with all the relevant African leaders, including SADC (Southern African Development Community) and the African Union, the European Union, and all relevant interested stakeholders on this matter. I have again dispatched my senior advisor, Mr. [Haile] Menkerios, who has been participating as a member of the “reference group”. In fact, the United Nations and the African Union have been very closely participating and engaged in this process. Now that SADC has decided to convene a full summit meeting, I hope that these leaders of SADC are considering their responsibility to see peace and stability maintained in that region. They should really take very decisive measures to help resolve this crisis. This has been taking too long a time. I sincerely hope that President Mugabe should no longer disappoint the international community. There has been such a long and urgent call and expectations from the international community. He should now meet the expectation of the international community, and I am again doing my best and I'm personally engaged in this process.