Belarus’ migration risk assessment method to be applied in CIS

MINSK, 16 May (BelTA) – Belarus’ migration risk assessment methodology may be adopted throughout the CIS, Deputy Director of the Federal Migration Service of Russia Anatoly Kuznetsov told reporters in Minsk prior to the 15th meeting of the CIS joint commission to combat illegal migration.

This is a viable topic that we will discuss today and will recommend it for application for all CIS member states, Anatoly Kuznetsov said.

In turn, the head of the Citizenship and Migration Department of the Interior Ministry of Belarus Alexei Begun noted that the methodology for the evaluation of risks associated with migration is designed to minimize the consequences of the illegal migration and the overall impact of migration for the state. He added that the methodology will be finalized at the meeting of the joint commission, which later will prepare a note of recommendations for all CIS countries.

The creation of the Single Economic Space (SES) has established certain preferences for the CIS countries in the field of migration policy, Anatoly Kuznetsov told reporters. The SES member states signed two agreements on combating illegal migration and temporary employment, which came into effect on 1 January. According to Anatoly Kuznetsov, the issue of temporary employment sparked off serious debate but it was nevertheless decided not to protect the labor market. The SES member states agreed to the free movement of workforce without any restrictions. “It means that if a Russian national wants to come to work in Belarus, he is free to do it on an equal basis with Belarusians. The same is true about Russia and Kazakhstan,” he said. The official believes that the first results of this novelty will be summed up in a year, and they will be surely positive.

As for the issues to be discussed in a meeting of the joint commission, Anatoly Kuznetsov emphasized that the CIS does not have such pressing problems which Europe is faceing today: yet certain problems do exist. The 15th meeting of the CIS joint commission will look into the ways of solving the existing problems.

The meeting of the CIS joint commission to combat illegal migration will be held in Minsk on 16-17 May. Partaking in it will be representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and experts from international structures (CSTO, the UN, etc.)