Jakarta, (Antara)- The Bali Process meeting has agreed to set up a regional mechanism of swift responses to irregular migration issues, including on refugees and asylum seekers.
"Through this mechanism, the co-chairmen could build communication with the relevant countries including the country of origin, transit country, and destination country, in case of any emergency," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi noted in a statement issued by the foreign ministry on Wednesday.
The agreement was reached during the two-day Sixth Regional Ministerial Conference of the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons, and Related Transnational Crime co-chaired by Minister Retno and her Australian counterpart Julie Bishop in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday.
The Bali Process member countries emphasized the importance of a regional comprehensive approach by applying the principles of burden sharing and collective responsibility.
The conference also highlighted the need to provide safety and protection to the migrants and victims of transnational crimes.
The delegates also pledged to help address the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement, among other issues, by providing support to the countries of origin through community-based investment.
The member countries will also explore mechanisms of non-voluntary extradition and international cooperation.
They also agreed on intensifying efforts to fight organized transnational crimes.
A total of 303 delegates, including 16 ministers from 54 countries, attended the meeting.
As many as 12 observer countries and eight international organizations also sent their representatives to the meeting.(*)
