CAIRO – Egypt stressed firm commitment to supporting the rights of migrants and enhancing their opportunities for a better life due to their contributions to economic and social development efforts in host communities and countries of origin based on migrants’ expertise, skills and investments.
A statement issued Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Expatriates Affairs – on the occasion of Egypt and the international community celebration of the International Migrants Day – the foreign ministry said, the celebration comes this year in tandem with steps Egypt adopted to enhance its efforts to support Egyptian citizens abroad, as the ministry of state for emigration and expatriates affairs was merged with the ministry of foreign affairs; reflecting a strategic direction to enhance coordination between ministries and other concerned national bodies, with a view to meeting needs of Egyptian communities abroad.
All drives were meant to strengthen existing ties between expatriates and their communities, along with preserving their rights and interests in their host communities, in addition to benefiting from their expertise and contributions to support development efforts in Egypt, the statement said.
Egypt underscored keenness on respecting international obligations and tackling the migration file through a comprehensive and integrated approach, taking into account long-term humanitarian and developmental dimensions, as well as security considerations supporting legal migration courses in parallel with working to address root causes of illegal migration, it added.
The Egyptian vision in this regard incorporates several axes that include achieving development at home, so that migration is a choice and not a necessity, via qualifying young people and building their capacities, in line with the labor markets’ needs at home and abroad, according to the statement.
The Egyptian State deals with the migration file through a strategic vision that balances the considerations of Egypt being a source, transit and destination country at the same time and in a manner that takes into account the principles stipulated in the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration; which Egypt is one of leading countries in implementing at the international level, the statement read.
Egypt received on its territory more than nine million migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, who left their countries for political, economic and humanity reasons and they found in Egypt a safe haven, living side by side with Egyptians, enjoying the same basic services available to citizens, especially in the fields of health and education, together with complete freedom of movement, as Egypt adopted a fixed policy rejecting the establishment of camps for refugees or migrants, it said.
The statement concluded by stating that addressing the migration issue from a comprehensive perspective would require more co-operation, coordination and participation at the international level, besides enhancing constructive dialogue between countries of origin, transit and destination and relevant international organizations.
Meantime, the statement stressed the importance of properly integrating migrants into host societies and adopting a positive approach towards their key contributions in support of development efforts in host societies and their countries of origin, thus pressing ahead with spread a culture of peace and acceptance of others and reducing all forms of hatred and persecution.
