Kyrgyzstan Rejects European Proposal to Accept Afghan and African Migrants

DID Press: Kyrgyzstan has rejected a proposal from several European countries to accept migrants from Afghanistan and African countries in exchange for employment opportunities in Europe for skilled Kyrgyz citizens.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev announced the decision at a meeting of the parliamentary committee on international relations, defence, security and migration, saying Bishkek was not prepared to negotiate under those terms.

He stressed that Kyrgyz citizens could travel abroad for work if opportunities were available, but the government would not negotiate an arrangement involving the acceptance of migrants in exchange for such benefits.Details of the proposal, including which European countries put it forward and how many migrants would have been transferred to Kyrgyzstan, have not been made public.

Kulubaev also said Kyrgyzstan was facing a labour shortage while the destinations sought by its citizens for overseas employment were changing.The proposal comes as European countries seek to expand migration cooperation with countries outside the European Union. Such arrangements have raised broader questions about migrants’ rights, the responsibilities of receiving countries and compliance with international human rights obligations.