SG: Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press. Thank you for coming to this press conference. I think I speak for all of us in saying how happy I am with the extraordinary turnout at this Global Forum on Migration and Development. With more than 140 countries represented we have easily exceeded 132 countries who participated in the High-level Dialogue at the United Nations in September last year. This is not only evidence of how seriously the world takes this issue. It is also a tribute to the vision and dedication and leadership of Belgium, which took the initiative and the risk of hosting this inaugural forum. Doing so was a leap of faith and an act of creation for which we are all grateful. Let me express my profound appreciation to His Excellency, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, and his government and also let me specially thank Ambassador [Regine] De Clerq of Belgium for her leadership. And let me thank my Special Representative for Migration and Development, Mr. Peter Sutherland. I am delighted that he has agreed to stay on as my Special Representative for this post through the next forum. Thank you very much for your willingness to contribute.
As we can see in the excitement around the event, international migration is an issue of vital importance in the 21st century. It is also a very difficult and complex one to understand fully, as you may agree. So much is at stake: the rights of migrants, countless, billions in potential investment for development, the cohesion of our societies, the help of our economies. We must work together to analyze the best way forward. The Global Forum provides a space outside heated domestic political arenas to do that, to understand how we as policy makers can make migration work better for development. To explore what we can do to ensure that the courage and hard work of the world's 200 million migrants pay off. That they translate into education, knowledge, health and sustainable development in the parts of the world that need it most. More than 600 delegates, senior policy makers, ministers, heads of international aid agencies, central bank directors have come here to discover what they can do. They have come here to learn from each other and to build a partnership. They have come to discuss innovative ways for government and the private sector to work together so remittances [can be sent to] families at low cost [and] also help develop financial services in poor communities. They will deliver it over the brain drain to understand its true dynamics and how to mitigate it. They will look at ways to ensure that people move in a way that is safe and legal and which protects their rights. There are many more aspects to be discussed. As members of the media you have a crucial role to play in enriching the debate, in examining the policies of your governments and in covering the migrant's story. Thank you very much and we will do our best efforts to make this forum a success and most importantly answer your questions. Thank you very much.
Q: [inaudible]? if the UN Security Council can wait before taking a resolution on Kosovo without risking violence in the region.
SG: Thank you very much. I realized that migration affects virtually all aspects of our life since I have been asked this question on Kosovo. The Security Council has made yesterday an informal debate and, as you are fully aware, the fourth draft has been tabled for debate on this issue. I am concerned that we have not been able to take any action on this as much as we have hoped. Any further delay or prolongation on this very important issue will have a very negative impact on all peace and security, not only in Kosovo, not only in the Balkans but all European situations. I sincerely hope that –first of all –members of the Security Council will be able to agree on this fourth draft providing 120 days of further consultation on this. I have been engaged in consulting with many of the world's leaders, particularly including the European Union. The unity of the European Union is very important. At the same time, there should be reasonable incentives and visions should be given to Serbia to minimize their concerns and anxieties, for example, European Union vision or association and stabilization processes. And we need to address this issue in a more comprehensive way, with tactical or strategic minds, as we are now experiencing an impasse on this issue. As the Secretary-General, I am going to continue to engage myself in consultations with major players and at the same time I would hope that the parties concerned should not take any premature unilateral action on this issue. Thank you very much.
Q: This is for the Secretary-General. You stressed the importance of the linkage between the United Nations and the Global Forum. In that sense, may I ask for your response to the fact that in this Global Forum, where there is discussion on migration and development, there is hardly any stress on human rights? Human rights are not prominent in the discussion or in the side of the conference. So could you comment on that, on the importance of human rights in this Global Forum?
SG: This is very important, the relationship between migration and human rights. I think I have stressed this importance. Migration affects not only development and the economy, but affects, has a relationship to human rights and cultural understanding, alleviating objective poverties. The relationship between migration and the United Nations has been rather very thin. The only relationship is through Mr. Peter Sutherland, my Special Representative for Migration and Development. But the United Nations, this is true, has taken [the] initiative last year by convening a General Assembly debate, a high-level debate on migration and development yesterday. My presence here means a strong commitment and assurances on the part of the United Nations to involve [itself] in this. And Mr. Sutherland will continue to work as my Special Representative.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, Mr. Guy Verhofstadt. What is your personal opinion about the wall that the United States is building at the border with Mexico? [What] could be the solution of this problem?
SG: While we discuss this, immigration, migration, every country has her own sovereign right to monitor and control her own security and borders. Therefore, we fully respect that each Member State of the United Nations takes care of her own border security and immigration policies. At the same time, I would urge that each Member State of the United Nations should, in dealing with immigration and migration issues, fully respect human rights and the question of the well-being and safety of those potential migrants.
Q: Mr Ban Ki-moon. Good morning. I am sorry, but we don't always have the chance to have you in Europe. I want to know your personal opinion on the European Union initiative promoted by Italy for a moratorium on the death penalty in September at the United Nations. Thank you.
SG: Should I limit [my answer] to migration? Maybe we can meet later, after this, I don't want to turn this press conference into where we discuss all aspects of our United Nations agenda or world affairs.
[Additional questions asked after the official end of the press conference]
Q: [inaudible question on Pakistan]
SG: I am concerned about the ongoing situation in Pakistan and hope sincerely that all these issues [should] be resolved through dialogue and peaceful means. I know that there is a serious difference of opinions between government and those [inaudible]. As Secretary-General, I sincerely feel that this issue should be resolved peacefully, reflecting the human rights aspect. Also, those people who would have a different opinion with the government should also resort to peaceful means, refraining from taking any violent means.
Q: Mr Ban Ki-moon, can I have a short comment, a really, really short comment on the Italian initiative on the moratorium in September?
SG: This is an important initiative. There is a growing tendency in the international community to see the phased moratorium of death sentences. Human rights should be fully protected and I support this tendency in the international community to see a gradual abolishment of the death penalties. Thank you very much.