Opening Address By His Excellency Sieng Lapresse Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Interior Representative of the Royal Government of Cambodia On APC Seminar on Refugees, Displaced Persons and Migrants 30-31August 2007, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Distinguished Delegates, Representative of the APC Secretariat, Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, we are honored in hosting the first activity of the Asia-Pacific Consultations (APC) work program for 2007- a work shop on “Regional Consultative Process: Insights from the Global Forum on Migration and Development.” We would like also to take this opportunity to express our warm welcome and sincere appreciation to all distinguished delegates and colleagues of organizing committee of the APC Secretariat for their contribution of invaluable time, energy and ideas to be with us away from their home and families to make the today workshop possible. For the Cambodians, the Kingdom of Cambodia was once transformed from the land of tranquility to the hell of the recent past by the killings, bombings, and incursions by foreign armies. The Cambodian people were endured so much pain and injustice for unforgiving reason that they did not deserve. Those past bitter experience and effect vividly remind the Cambodian people who had once been refugees themselves to be vigilant against the movement of global political uncertainty rather than the opposition of population movement such the movement of refugees, displaced persons and migrants. The Kingdom of Cambodia is proud to be a dynamic member of the APC in 1999. We hosted the Mekong Sub-regional Workshop on Capacity Building and Reintegration. In 2002 and 2003, we were involved as one of the discussants in formulating the future directions for the Asia-Pacific Process (APC). Abiding by domestic and international rules of law, the Cambodian authorities in charge of immigration and foreign affairs have jointly worked with IOM and UNHCR to enhance mutual cooperation in addressing the plight and the movement of foreign population in Cambodia. Since its inception in 1996 as a regional consultative process, the APC had provided a forum for States to come together to discuss issues relating to population movements, including refuges, displaced persons and migrants. The APC has worked effectively to promote dialogue, share examples of good practice and explore opportunities for greater regional cooperation. It is unique in the region because it provides an opportunity for States to discuss the concerns of refugees and other displaced persons. Today, we are here to discuss matters relating to the migration dimension of the APC’s work. For the next two days, we expect to gain more knowledge shared by our colleagues and participants. On the 1st day we will attend to the following presentations: • What constitutes a successful regional process such the importance and role of the Regional Consultative Processes (RCPs), • Regional Consultative Processes: Insights from the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), • Some Regional Processes in Asia-Pacific Region such Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, Colombo Process, Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference (PIDC), ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs (ASEAN DGICM), • Reflection on the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), On the 2nd day, we will concentrate on: • The Asia-Pacific Consultations (APC) as a regional process such significance in the region, achievements, lessons learnt, potential for out come focused and action oriented activities, examination of the model cycle and future directions docs formulated by the Open Ended Working Group in 2003, and • Strengthening the APC as a regional process drawing upon the recommendations of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) We hope the workshop will stimulate dialogue on the relevance of the work of the GFMD to our region, and on practical ways in which the APC might contribute to future international dialogue on migration issues. Thank you for your attention. Now, I would like to declare the workshop on Regional Consultative Process: Insights from the Global Forum on Migration and Development is opened!

Date: 11/4/2008