Astana, 14 July 2015 – An Ambassadors Briefing for the Member and Observer States of the Almaty Process on Refugee Protection and International Migration was organized by the Chair of the Almaty Process, the Republic of Kazakhstan. The discussion was chaired by the Chairperson of the Almaty Process, Vice-Minister, Birzhan Nurymbetov, of the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Participants to the briefing were the Deputy Minister of Labour, Migration and Youth of the Kyrgyz Republic, ambassadors and delegates from the embassies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Tajikistan, the Republic of Turkey and Turkmenistan. In addition, representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Border Service of the Committee of National Security of the Republic of Kazakhstan as well as representatives from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees participated in the Ambassadors briefing.

Participants elaborated on the achievements of the Almaty Process during the past two years and discussed on the activities and progress made. The Chairperson of the Almaty Process presented the theme of the Second Senior Officials Meeting, ‘Labor Migration Opportunities and Challenges in Central Asia, addressing Solutions for Migrants and Refugees’,  to be hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan in Astana on 22 September, 2015. Member States of the Almaty Process, IOM and UNHCR representatives expressed their appreciation towards the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasizing Kazakhstan’s successful Chairmanship.