The Russian Federal Migration Service (FMS) and IOM will tomorrow
sign an agreement to underline both parties' mutual interest in the
establishment and maintenance of long-term cooperation in migration
management.

The signing, to take place during the 29th Plenary Session of
the Interparliamentary Assembly of Commonwealth of Independent
States (CIS) nations, marks an important step in the development of
relations between IOM, the FMS, and the Russian government as a
whole. The country holds observer status within the
Organization.

The agreement, to be signed by Konstantin Romodanovskiy, FMS
Director and IOM Director General, Brunson McKinley, will cover
practical collaboration on the development and implementation of
migration-related programmes, the promotion of migration management
activities between Russia and other countries and the provision of
assistance to migrants including those stranded in transit.
Cooperation will also include consultation on the development of
migration policy, legislation and institutional frameworks as well
as training to build the capacity of FMS personnel. 

"Russia is second only to the United States in the number of
migrants it hosts and continues to be affected by major migration
flows. Russia's economic development, demographic challenges as
well as its geographic position between Asia and Europe will ensure
that migration will remain among the priorities for its
government," said McKinley. "IOM, in close cooperation with the
FMS, is already implementing and developing a variety of projects
for the Russian Federation aimed at developing efficient, fair and
mutually beneficial systems for managing migration. I trust that
these initiatives are not only benefitting the Russian Federation
but also underline the value of our cooperative efforts."

For further information, please contact:

Mark Brown

IOM Moscow

Tel: +7495 797 87 22

E-mail: "mailto:mbrown@iom.int">mbrown@iom.int

or

Nina Adamova

E-mail: "mailto:nadamova@iom.int">nadamova@iom.int