FM Aidarbekov meets with IOM Director General António Vitorino

Bishkek, Oct.9, 2019. /Kabar/. On Oct.8, 2019 Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov met with Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) António Vitorino, the press service of the Foreign Ministry said.

The parties discussed priority issues of bilateral cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and IOM, including international migration policy, labour migration and combating human trafficking.

Taking into account the importance and relevance for Kyrgyzstan of the issues of external migration, Minister Aidarbekov noted the significance of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and IOM in this area.

In this context, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs positively noted the activities of the organization in the implementation of various programs and projects within its mandate in the country, and expressed gratitude for the timeliness of assistance provided by IOM.

Also, FM Aidarbekov informed António Vitorino about the first meeting of the Council on Relations with Compatriots Abroad under President of the Kyrgyz Republic, held in Bishkek in August 2019, the main purpose of which is to strengthen interaction and ensure effective cooperation between the state and compatriots.

The IOM Director General welcomed Kyrgyzstan's efforts to strengthen and improve its migration policy in the country, and welcomed the level of bilateral cooperation between the parties.

The sides agreed to continue active and fruitful cooperation between the Kyrgyz Republic and IOM in order to ensure a timely response and address the challenges facing the country.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization that provides services and advice concerning migration to governments and migrants, including internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrant workers.

In September 2016, it became a related organization of the United Nations. It was initially established in 1951 as the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) to help resettle people displaced by World War II.