Activities addressing Asylum, Migration and Displacement Issues are now being fully managed by the countries of South East Europe themselves – the MARRI (Migration, Asylum and Refugee Return Initiative) Regional Centre in Skopje opened its door today and started its operation.

Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact Erhard Busek attended in Skopje today the official opening of the MARRI Regional Centre at the invitation of The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s Minister of Interior Siljan Avramovski and the MARRI Presidency-in-Office represented by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania Luan Hajdaraga.

The event concludes the formal and operational establishment of the MARRI Regional Forum and its Secretariat, the MARRI Regional Centre, fully according to the planned timetable.  The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 2 July 2004 and the host agreement concluded on 15 November 2004.  Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Special Co-ordinator congratulated the Governments of Albania and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for this step forward, which is a concrete and tangible example of how the region is taking regional ownership seriously.

Following the creation of the Regional Forum, consisting of the Governments of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, responsibility of managing and co-ordinating asylum, migration and displacement matters in the Western Balkans has now been handed over to the region under the auspices of the South Eastern European Co-operation Process (SEECP).  The Stability Pact will continue to support the process politically, including through its networks in Brussels and with other key international organisations.