G8 parliamentary leaders urge fight against illegal migration

September 16

The fight against illegal migration should be not only a matter of law enforcement, but should also include incentives for the least developed countries and regions, G8 parliamentary leaders said today at a meeting in St. Petersburg.

"The G8 parliaments are working closely on this major humanitarian issue," Speaker of the Russian State Duma Boris Gryzlov said. "Illegal migration is a cross-border challenge and as such calls for joint action by the international community - first of all the G8 countries, which are the destination for most illegal migrants."

Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Russian State Duma's international affairs committee, told reporters the meeting had formulated two main approaches to migration: while lawful and controllable labor migration is welcomed, illegal migration is seen as a challenge because it facilitates smuggling and organized crime.

"Our U.S. counterparts see uncontrolled migration as a national security threat, since up to a million illegal migrants cross the U.S.'s southern border every year. For Russia, the figure is about the same, which explains why Russia's view has something in common with both approaches," he said.