ALMATY, Kazakhstan -

On 14-16 March, SRSG Jenča traveled to Kazakhstan for a conference and meetings. In Almaty, he took part in a "Regional Conference on Refugee Protection and International Migration in Central Asia", co-organized with UNHCR and IOM. Discussions focused on challenges posed by mixed migration movements in Central Asia and related protection needs.

A Declaration was adopted by participants stressing the importance of establishing appropriate national legal frameworks to protect people forming part of migration movements and proposing to set up a regional cooperation framework for better information on population movements. In Astana, meetings were held with Kazakh State Secretary and Foreign Minister K. Saudabaev, Senate Speaker K. Tokaev and the Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, M. Shaikhutdinov.

Discussions were dominated by activities in support of stability, development and reconciliation in Kyrgyzstan. The importance of regional cooperation and international partnership was emphasized to address threats to security in Central Asia, including terrorism, extremism, narco-trafficking, water management and environmental degradation. Preparations for the upcoming presidential election in Kazakhstan, to be held on 3 April, were also mentioned.

Text of the Declaration in English language (PDF format)