NEWS - Myanmar Calls for INT'L Coop

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Subject: NEWS - Myanmar Calls for INT'L Cooperation on Migration

Myanmar Calls for INT'L Cooperation on Migration

               Xinhua
               11-JUL-99

               YANGON (July 12) XINHUA - A high-ranking Myanmar
               immigration official has called for international
cooperation,
               particularly among neighboring countries, to prevent
               undocumented migrants from becoming a source of threat to
               the political stability and security of the country of
origin. 

               "We do hope that this problem will not be an issue in the
               year 2015," said Myanmar Minister of Immigration and
               Population U Saw Tun at a ceremony here Sunday marking
               the 1999 World Population Day. 

               He pointed out that Myanmar's favorable
population-to-land
               ratio and fertile land are the main attractions to the
people
               from neighboring countries. 

               Similarly, he said, many people from Myanmar, for
economic
               reasons and better job opportunities, have found
attractive
               employment in neighboring countries. 

               Realizing that migration, including irregular and
               undocumented immigration, has both positive and negative
               dimensions, he stressed the need to address the issue in
a
               comprehensive and balanced manner. 

               He appealed for the recognition that every nation has the
               sovereign right to safeguard its borders and improve its
               migration or immigration laws. 

               He expressed Myanmar's determination to continue to play
               an active role in the world efforts to tackle the issue
of
               population, while strengthening its collaboration and
               cooperation with all nations and international
organizations.