On 19 June, Michael Spindelegger, ICMPD Director General, attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and took part in the high-level panel “Humanitarian Approach towards Refugees and Migrants”. On the panel, he was joined by Mr Antonio Vitorino (IOM Director General), Dr. Kerem Kinik (Red Crescent/IFRC) and Dr. Savaş Ünlü (Director DGMM Turkey). Andrea Sanke moderated the panel.
The session discussed the situation of the 80 million forcibly displaced persons in the world and took a comprehensive perspective to explore ways and means for furthering international cooperation. In his remarks, ICMPD Director General argued that “a truly ‘humanitarian approach’ towards refugees and migrants is to end their dependency on humanitarian aid. If we really want to support them, we need to offer normal living conditions and a stable future both in their host countries and their home countries as soon as the security situation allows for a return.”
The Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2021 entitled “Innovative Diplomacy: New Era, New Approaches” is a high-level event that hosted current and former state representatives and ministers as well as the heads of numerous International Organisations and INGOs.