Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations
russiaun.ru

Mr. Chairman,

The Russian Federation considers migration to be a complicated phenomenon that to a large extent has an influence upon development in times of globalization. We believe that in the foreseeable future the interdependence between international migration and a wide range of political, social, economic, demographic, cultural and historical challenges of our days will continue. Migration issues will play an important role in international relations including in the context of development.

The Russian Federation is convinced that for the benefit of development it is crucial to maximize positive effects of migration, to minimize its negative ones and to promote lawful interests and rights of migrants themselves. The way to gain advantages from migration for migrants and countries of their origin as well as for receiving states may be found through a constructive international dialogue on issues of migration and development. Equally important to achieve this aim is an effective management of migration processes grounded on balanced and coherent national, regional and international migration policies.

We should never forget that because of different kind of conflicts, instability and other factors for millions of people on our planet migration is forced and is the only possible way to save their lives. By the end of 2015 as per data of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees over 60 million people were in displacement due to conflict and persecution. Assistance to them is a particular area of international humanitarian action that requires considerable efforts and financial resources on behalf of the international communities and hosting countries. Therefore, for the benefit of development in the context of migration it is important to politically settle and prevent conflicts thus giving people an option not to flee their homes. 

Mr. Chairman,

Russia welcomes the new 2030 Agenda for Development. The adoption of this program with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core is a historical achievement and great window of opportunity for our cause. For the first time the Goals and Targets specifically include references to migration.

The framework of the Agenda will be finalized and put in place with the elaboration of specific indicators for each and every goal and target. We note with great interest the willingness of the IOM, as the leading international agency in the field of migration, to contribute to this endeavor and stimulate in-depth discussions on implementation, follow-up and review of the migration related SDG targets.

We believe that optimal means to organize global and regional reviews of progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda are to be found on the basis of the outcomes of ongoing intergovernmental discussions as well as of deliberations on clear indicators to track results of achieving the new SDGs. Currently the system of indicators of the SDGs is being discussed in the framework of expert groups under the auspices of the United Nations Statistical Commission that is to adopt corresponding recommendations at its 47thsession. Russian experts are actively involved into this work. It is understood that the decisions of the Statistical Commission will be presented to the Economic and Social Council and later adopted at the General Assembly. 

The Russian Federation stands ready to support the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda at all levels in accordance with its national priorities and international obligations. We welcome cooperation on a wide range of migration issues with all interested parties.

I thank you for your attention.