The Turkish parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean represented PAM at the United Nations Preparatory Meeting of the intergovernmental conference to adopt a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration, held in Mexico on 4-6 December 2017.
The PAM delegation was made up of Hon. Atay Uslu, Hon. Mustafa Akaydin and Hon. Yilmaz Tezcan.
During the meeting participants took stock of inputs received during the thematic and regional consultations in phase I; presented inputs from relevant processes that have not been presented in the informal thematic sessions; engaged in discussions and analysed the inputs received as they relate to facilitating safe, orderly and regular migration; and discussed potential means of implementation, as well as follow-up and review mechanisms for a global compact.
Hon. Tezcan addressed the Conference on behalf of PAM and reiterated the importance of parliamentary initiatives to ensure the effective national ratification and implementation of the various international conventions concerning migration governance, as well as the protection of migrants and refugees.
The PAM delegate highlighted the importance of offering protection and assistance to refugees throughout the European Union, pursuant to the established principles of “liberty, democracy and respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law”, and in contrast to the rising anti-immigration discourse and ill-feeling towards refugees.
“Migrants’ integration is extremely important for ensuring stability and security throughout the Mediterranean region. In fact, most of the recent terrorist attacks have been conducted not by new migrants but by individuals born in the country where the attack was perpetrated. Therefore, if we want to contain the terrorist threat, we must promote interreligious and intercultural dialogue”, Hon Tezcan concluded.
