NEWS

Speech by President Rosen Plevneliev at the High-Level Plenary Meeting on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants

Mr. President,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today’s meeting gives us a unique opportunity to agree on a global approach in managing large-scale movements of refugees and migrants. Globally-shared responsibility is vital. Common action among the countries of origin, transit and destination should be undertaken in a spirit of  support and solidarity.

The New York Declaration we adopt today emphasizes our common objective for strengthened cooperation and coordination within the UN system.

The established closer partnership between the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration is a timely and welcome decision.

Bulgaria welcomes the valuable contribution of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing co-chaired by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Ms Kristalina Georgieva and His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak, highlighting the need for closer coordination between humanitarian and development action.

We cannot address the issue unless we resolve the root causes of migration. We need to find lasting settlement of the conflicts and tackle human rights violations, difficult socio-economic situations and lack of good governance in the countries of origin.

Respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law, effective border management and readmission are key elements of managing migration. We welcome the strong reference in the New York Declaration to the full implementation of the existing readmission agreements.

The effectiveness of border control remains of the utmost importance. This includes full respect for the human rights of asylum seekers, preventing and combating irregular migration and migrant smuggling, and eradicating human trafficking. It is vital to make a clear distinction between refugees and economic migrants, who are not eligible for refugee status. Many irregular migrants become victims of criminal networks and trafficking in human beings when attempting to cross borders illegally.

Bulgaria strictly follows international humanitarian and human rights law. Our capacity to provide protection has increased significantly. We are particularly committed to the protection of the most vulnerable – women, children, especially unaccompanied children, and persons with disabilities. Bulgaria is providing humanitarian and development assistance to the countries of origin and transit.

Bulgaria has already launched its first National Resettlement Program and strongly supports the appeal for States who have not yet established resettlement programmes to consider doing so at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. President,

By adopting the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework we will be better able to protect and assist refugees, and support host countries while putting in place measures to respond to their legitimate security concerns.

Future work towards the adoption of a Global Compact on Refugees in 2018 provides an important opportunity to integrate prevention and tackling root causes into the Comprehensive Framework.

My country is determined to participate in the forthcoming process of negotiations leading to the adoption of a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration which would set out a range of principles, commitments and understandings among UN Member States on international migration in all its dimensions.

Thank you!