TÜRK DELEGASYONU ÜYELERİNİN GENEL KURUL TOPLANTILARINDA YAPTIĞI KONUŞMALAR
AVRUPA KONSEYİ
PARLAMENTER MECLİSİ OCAK GENEL KURUL TOPLANTISI
27-31 OCAK 2003,
STRAZBURG
PROGRESS REPORT
OF THE BUREAU AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE
Mr MERCAN(Turkey). – As
this is the first time I am under this historic roof and addressing this august
body, I would first like to greet the members of the Assembly. I
sincerely hope to contribute to the work of the Assembly and to the values and
ideals it stands for.
I would like to thank the rapporteur for his report. Since the report has
an exclusive addendum on the parliamentary elections held in Turkey on 3
November 2002, I would like to present some observations.
Turkey has a long-standing tradition of democracy. Elections have always
been held in a free, fair and transparent manner. The parliamentary
elections of 3 November are a clear testimony to this democratic tradition in
Turkey. The members of the Parliamentary Assembly ad hoc committee
who were in Turkey during the elections observed for themselves this very
democratic phenomenon in Turkey.
I believe that the election observation missions of the Parliamentary Assembly
have an important role to play in monitoring the way in which elections are
held. Nevertheless, these missions should focus on transition countries
and the new member states of the Council of Europe. The observation
missions play a positive role in monitoring this process of transition.
In line with these considerations, I consider that the decision of the Bureau
to implement the decision taken in 1999, allowing the extension of the
observations of elections to states which are undergoing an Assembly monitoring
procedure, should be revised.
I recall that the members of the ad hoc committee themselves considered
their mission in Turkey as a visit to a long-standing member state of the
Council of Europe at the time of parliamentary elections. I entirely
share their doubt about the linkage between the election observations and the
monitoring procedure of the Assembly. I strongly believe that these two
are separate procedures which do not have any automatic link.
I none the less hope that the positive assessment of the elections by the ad
hoc committee will duly be considered by relevant committees of the Parliamentary
Assembly. I also call our Assembly to consider positively our remarks
with regard to the implementation of the 1999 decision in the future.
Now, I want to say a few words about the comments on evaluation of the
political situation in Turkey.
I regretfully want to point out that AKP, the party that I belong to, has been
labelled in the report as “moderate Islamic” party. It has also been
falsely said that our Chairman had brought Islam into the election campaign.
The truth is that the AKP is a conservative democratic party which supports
secularism, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We strongly
believe that there shall be no religious party in our country and religion and
political matters should be stricly separated without any doubt.
I would also like to note that neither my chairman nor anyone in my party has
used Islam in the election campaign because of our strong belief on the
separation of religion and state.
FREEDOM OF EXRESSION IN
THE MEDIA IN EUROPE
Mrs BILGEHAN (Turkey). –
First of all, I would like to thank the rapporteur for the comprehensive work
she has presented to us. Freedom of expression, in particular in the
media, has always been an outstanding issue in terms of the democratic process
in every society.
Free, pluralist and independent media, in conformity with the responsibilities
derived from professional principles, is an essential indicator of the
democratic maturity of nations.
Since the report comprises some assessments about the freedom of expression in
the media in Turkey, I would like to give some information to the Assembly
about the recent develoepments which have taken place in Turkey in order to
allay some concerns that might concurrently arise.
The media, as in all other countries, has constantly been strengthened
politically, economically and socially also in Turkey. Its role in all
aspects of life has increased, as have the requirements of the media.
Therefore, the new regulations and amendments within the context of the ongoing
reform process in Turkey have brought new guarantees for the freedom of
expression in the media due to its increasing importance and relevant universal
standards.
Freedom of the press and the right of every individual to obtain information,
as among the basic principles in fundamental rights and freedoms, has already
been guaranteed by constitutional provisions. Those provisions also
comprise the dissemination, publication and distribution of thoughts as well as
expression without any censorship.
While it is generally accepted that freedom of expression is, and remains, the
cornerstone of democracy, there are certainly some permitted restrictions
encoded within the international treaties which in turn allow for a degree of
interpretation in what the extent of a free speech should be.
According to the Constitution, freedom of the press can only be restricted with
a view to preventing crime, punishing the offenders, witholding information
classified as state secrets, protecting the rights of others and a few other
circumstances ensuring the accurate functioning of the judiciary. These
restrictions, as indicated in several landmark cases by the national and international
courts, are proportionate to the legitimate aims pursued, and do not go beyond
what is necessary in a democratic society in order to protect the individual
and/or the state.
As the Assembly is well aware, the ongoing reform process has gained new
momentum in the past year. Significant legislative amendments introduced
new provisions which strengthened the existing safeguards not only in the field
of freedom of expression, but also in privacy of individual life, freedom of
association and gender equality. These reform packages were adopted
within the framework of the Turkish National Programme for the Harmonisation of
the European Union acquis communautaire.
Legal restrictions on learning and broadcasting of different languages and
dialects traditionally used by Turkish citizens have been removed; thus freedom
to broadcast is totally ensured. The amendment to Article 159 of the
Turkish Penal Code extends the limits of freedom of expression in conformity
with the norms of the European Convention on Human Rights.
There is a new “human rights culture” that is fast taking hold in Turkey and
the Turkish nation is determined to achieve a thoroughly democratic society,
where human rights are fully respected and the rule of law prevails
consistently.
We also expect those who criticise us to take into consideration the remarkable
progress that has been achieved so far. After all, there is no perfection
in the field of human rights and there is always room for improvement for every
country. Working towards achieving the highest standards of human rights
should be a duty and responsibility of each member of the international
community.
Contribution of
the Council of Europe to the constitution-making process of the European Union
|
Mr AKÇAM (Turkey). – I would like to extend
my thanks to the members of the Political Affairs Committee and rapporteur
for this timely and excellent work.
As we all know, the Council of Europe’s expertise in the fields of freedom,
security and justice, fundamental rights, certain aspects of common foreign
and security policy is undisputed. On the other hand, Turkey is a
member of the European Convention, and I have read the report rather
carefully and my suggestions and contributions are as follows. First, I
fully share the view that the Council’s acquis should be taken into
account regarding its relations with its “immediate environment”.
Secondly, the European Union should incorporate the European Convention on
Human Rights in the future constitutional treaty to strengthen the legally
binding mechanisms for the protection of human rights in Europe.
Thirdly, the representatives of the national parliaments make up the majority
of the Convention. The European Council’s recognition of this
composition indicated that national parliaments constitute one of the
fundamental elements of democratic legitimacy. However, in Convention
debates, representatives of national parliaments have not had an influence
commensurate with their numerical strength.
It is my firm conviction that national parliaments can play an
increasing role in helping to make the Union more democratic and to bring it
closer to its citizens. As the report of the working group on
subsidiarity has recognised, national parliaments have a specific interest
in, and responsibility for, respect for the principle of subsidiarity.
I strongly support the idea of reforming the Conference of Community and
European Affairs Committees. To that end, COSAC should be equipped with
an administrative secretariat facilitating greater continuity and better
efficiency. If the reform of COSAC is achieved, it would be necessary
to reflect this in the provisions of the future treaty. I believe that
unless it finds a meaningful place for national parliamentarians in the
European architecture, the Convention will have failed in one of its central
tasks. Thus, the results of the Convention will not provide an enduring
and solid basis for the democratic and peaceful Europe which we all wish to
build.
Lastly, as we all know, since its inception, the Council of Europe has
achieved a multicultural and inter-religious dialogue within a pluralist
system among its members. Through integrating the religious dimension
of different heritages, it has created a model of tolerance which will
considerably help those who propose to build a perpetual peace for the whole
of Europe. |
|
Mr
GÜLÇIÇEK (Turkey). – First of all, I would like to thank the
rapporteur for his report which is well-prepared and exhaustive I
believe that the report touches on an issue of high importance.
The draft recommendation addresses many economic aspects of the issue of
ageing population and social policies in Europe. It emphasises the importance
of concerted political action over the short, medium and long term in view of
the population ageing in Europe and the accelerated population growth in the
world in general.
I also read with great interest the Opinion given on behalf of the Committee
on Economic Affairs and Development Co-operation which, while
acknowledging at the same time the rights of the elderly to a secure old age,
puts a special emphasis on the need for Council of Europe member states to
reform employment policies, improve working conditions for their young
people, and to revise their policies and strategies so as to remain
competitive with the “younger” countries in other parts of the world.
Today, unemployment in some Council of Europe member states still occupies a
special place that has to be tackled and treated carefully. A breakdown
of population and unemployment by age groups and by sex reveals the fact that
women and those in the 15 to 24 age group are the most vulnerable segments of
our societies which need special attention. Young people with lower, or
no, qualifications constitute a considerable part of unemployed people.
In addition to this, the labour market needs to be modernised in order to
meet the needs of a competitive economy, paarticularly in the field of
ICT in the modern knowledge-based economy, though the efforts relating to the
improvement of professional qualification standards have been intensified to
a certain extent.
Besides investment incentives given to businessmen and support to SMEs, a
focus on training and skill acquisition courses, vocational training for
adults and promotion of entrepreneurship, as often stressed in the European
employment strategy, are also the key issues for most economies.
The policies designed for and measures taken on matters regarding education
and training are one of the most effective ways to relieve unemployment and
create job opportunities. Our focus could be, inter alia, on
employment guaranteed labour training courses, training courses for those
wishing to start their own business – entrepreneurship training – training
courses for occupational development, vocational rehabilitation training
courses for the disabled or industrial training seminars – in-company training.
In Turkey, efforts are being exerted by relevant Turkish institutions in
these directions. In order to increase efficiency and utilise manpower
resources in an more effective manner, steps should be taken to strengthen
the co-operation between public and private sectors and other related
institutions and universities.
Emphasis must be placed upon training for a qualified labour force at all
levels within and outside the educational system and upon organised and
extended vocational technical education, skill-acquisition training,
pre-service and on-the-job training and lifelong learning programmes.
In Turkey, the employment of young people occupies a more important position
in our system as the rate of persons aged over sixty-five is about 5%
now. Our priorities differ from some European countries due to this
demographic structure. The government made a social security reform in
1999 to, inter alia, improve the system’s operational
effectiveness. Within the framework of this reform, the minimum
retirement age was raised to fifty-eight in females and sixty in males and
the minimum contribution period was raised to twenty years.
I also share the view expressed in the report of the Committee on Economic
Affairs and Development Co-operation to the effect that Council of Europe
member states may well have to revise their policies in view of the
immigration pressure from outside Europe, when the older generation retires
from the labour markets and there remain fewer people of working age to take
their place. |
||
TOWARDS FULL INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH
DISABILITIES
Mr AÇIKGÖZ (Turkey). – The
draft recommendation and the report on the social integration of people with
disabilities touches on a highly important and topical subject. I congratulate
the rapporteur, Mr Surján, on his excellent report.
The declaration of the year 2003 as the European Year of People with
Disabilities will give new impetus to policies and initiatives aimed at
resolving the specific problems of people with disabilities. This is a good
opportunity for our governments and international institutions to deploy their
efforts in that regard.
I pay tribute to the achievements of the Council of Europe in protecting the
rights of people with disabilities and in drawing up specific policies for
them. Through its standard-setting instruments, the recommendations of our
Assembly and the Committee of Ministers, our Organisation has greatly
contributed to the social status and the rights of people with disabilities.
Let me also mention the important contributions made by the partial agreement
in the social and public health field and by the European conferences of
specialised ministers. Those achievements are important steps for people with
disabilities to become fully fledged citizens who have equal rights but also
specific requirements. I support the continuation of those efforts in the
Council of Europe.
My country attaches great importance to the protection of people with
disabilities. We believe in the necessity of guaranteeing effective access to
equal social and economic rights for them. There exists a real will and
concrete achievements in that regard, and we are determined to pursue our
efforts at national level.
I subscribe to the points made in the draft recommendation, which encourages
international co-operation and aims to achieve effective protection of the
rights of people with disabilities while facilitating their access to social
and economic rights.
CONFLICT IN THE CHECHEN
REPUBLIC
MR ATEŞ (Turkey). – First,
I thank the rapporteurs for the good work that they have done.
The tragic situation and current level of tension in the Chechen Republic of
the Russian Federation continues to be a concern for us all. Stability in the
Caucasus region is closely related to the Chechen issue. Maintenance of peace
and security in the wider Caucasus region has a direct impact on the stability
and welfare of our region. I believe that a political settlement is the only
viable solution for a durable peace and security in the region.
The parameters of a political settlement were laid down in the Final
Declaration adopted by OSCE at the Istanbul Summit in 1999. I believe that
dialogue between the two sides could be the only way to bring about a lasting
solution to the issue. However, I and many others are concerned with the
deadlock in the political dialogue process. At the same time, we are deeply
concerned about the plight of Chechen refugees in the entire region as relief
efforts, both local and international, remain inadequate. I cannot but share
the concerns of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the
Council of Europe about the closure of the displaced person’s camps and
involuntary displacement of their inhabitants to Chechnya.
I believe that a heavy responsibility rests on the shoulders of the Council of
Europe. As one of the main European institutions standing for the protection of
human rights, as well as democracy and the supremacy of the rule of law, I very
much welcome and appreciate the work and efforts of the Council’s experts who
are working at the office of the Special Representative of the Russian
President. Indeed, following the cessation of activities of the OSCE office in
Znamenskoye, as of 31 December 2002. the Council is the only western
institution dealing with the human rights and rule of law aspect of the
situation in Chechnya.
Continuation of this mission is essential if we are to prepare ground that is
conducive to a political settlement. Therefore, I would like strongly to call
upon the Russian authorities to continue and accelerate co-operation with the
Council’s experts. Providing the necessary conditions to hold a referendum,
with good timing, on the draft constitution would be an important move to that
end. Steps taken by the federal authorities to protect human rights in the
region would also prove Russia’s readiness to reach a political solution to the
problem.
IRAQ
Mr MERCAN (Turkey). – An
extraordinary situation has prevailed in Iraq since it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
The embargoes have very much hurt the Iraqi people, and the country constitutes
a source of instability and concern in the Middle East. A war in Iraq would
have adverse effects on the whole world system, but their full magnitude is
unpredictable today. That should be a source of deep concern to all countries
and not just to those in the region.
All countries – whether they border Iraq or not – should do everything that
they can to avoid war.
Military intervention in Iraq without international legitimacy is bound to
raise serious questions of moral justification and political rightness. It
would also create an undesirable precedent. I strongly believe that it is still
possible to resolve the Iraqi question through peaceful means. Peace
initiatives and diplomatic steps have not yet been fully exhausted. There is
still time for a peaceful settlement.
I believe that regional diplomatic initiatives have a contribution to make to
the decision-making process on the Iraqi issue. As Prime Minister Gül said in
his speech on Monday, his visits to five regional capitals has paved the way to
a joint effort to give peace a much needed chance.
We should be very clear that the prime responsibility for preventing a war lies
entirely with the Iraqi leadership. We should put pressure on the Iraqi
Government to endorse full, unconditional, unequivocal and immediate compliance
with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. It goes without saying that
Iraq must do much more to dissipate the clouds of war gathering in the Middle
East.
|
Mr ATEŞ
(Turkey). – The Iraqi issue is indeed a long-standing one.
Before commenting on the situation we are facing today and the dangers posed
by it, we must remember how we arrived at this point. The Iraqi issue
has continued, in its various aspects, for no fewer than twelve years
now. Throughout those years, the Iraqi people have suffered the
devastating consequences of war and sanctions. And throughout those
years, northern Iraq turned into a “no-man’s land”, and into a “safe-haven”
for terrorists where they could conduct their operations into Turkey.
As we determinedly fought this “organised evil”, we had to bury in our hearts
thousands of souls.
Furthermore, Turkey has suffered temendously in economic terms. Trading
routes were disrupted, traditional markets were lost and construction
contracts of important volumes were suspended. These caused
unemployment and losses of tens of billions of dollars in revenue. Not
only my country, but also the whole region was destabilised and adversely
affected.
Having lived through these consequences, we are sincere in our desire for the
restoration of conditions of normalcy in Iraq. The Turkish government
played an important role in trying to persuade the Iraqi leadership to
co-operate with the international community on the elimination of its weapons
of mass destruction. At long last, four years later, the Iraqi
government has decided to allow the return of UN weapon inspectors
unconditonally. Their findings have been reported to the Security
Council very recently. It seems unfortunate that the report is rather
negative.
We are passing through a final phase before the Iraqi government fully
understands the gravity of the situation. No-one in this room doubts
the seriousness of the stage we are at. And it is the will of the
international community that the Iraqi government adheres fully to all the
relevant UN Security Council resolutions. As part of that already
problematic geography, as a regional power, and more importantly as people
who have special historic and cultural relations and links to the people of
Iraq and the region, we have serious concerns regarding any miscalculations
that might destabilise the region. It should be remembered that
military action has not brought a lasting and viable solution in the Middle
East. On the contrary, military action further complicated problems
that were already difficult and carried them onwards to other generations.
Bearing this in mind, Turkey spares no effort for peace and security to
prevail in the region and will continue to do so. We know well that we
have historic responsibilities in securing the reign of hope and dignity in
our region. Respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity
of our neighbours, as well as other principles of good-neighbourliness will
continue to guide us. The destiny of the Iraqi people lies solely in
the hands of the Iraqis as a whole. The same should apply to the use
they want to make of their natural resources. In this context, the
single most important principle is to maintain Iraq’s territorial integrity
and national unity. Any scenario that will question these basic
principles should be discarded. We should deploy every effort to uphold
these principles. |
MARINE POLLUTION
Mr Mevlü ÇAVUŞOĞLU (Turkey).
– I thank the rapporteur for his excellent report. I stress that the European
Democratic Group supports it.
The rational use of
marine resources has always been an important issue. The sinking of the Prestige
has aggravated the problems that originated with the Erika accident
several years ago. Unfortunately, it has also underlined the lack of follow-up
to the decisions taken by this Assembly. How long will we have to urge our
respective governments to take action to prevent such accidents?
Marine pollution is a
global problem that is not confined to minor accidents. An important factor in
the failure to deal with pollution is the lack of sufficient infrastructure in
the developing world. Urban and industrial waste is often released into the sea
without proper treatment. We must consider ways of extending financial and
technical assistance to the developing countries.
We should also urge marine
transportation companies to obey strictly international environmental
standards. Those companies should be encouraged to adopt new techniques to
prevent accidents such as the sinking of the Prestige. Environmental
authorities should monitor the shipbuilding and maintenance industries more
closely.
I would like to draw
the Chamber’s attention to the environmental dangers faced in Turkey. Heavy oil
tanker traffic in the straits of the Bosphorus poses a threat to marine life in
the area, particularly in the Black Sea. The Turkish straits accept 45 000
vessels each year and that presents real dangers for the safety of passengers,
marine life, property and the environment. Increasing traffic through the
straits particularly affects Istanbul, the biggest city in Turkey with 10
million inhabitants. Unesco declared it a world heritage site because of its
3 000-year history.
Such considerations
increase the importance of measures that are designed to safeguard passenger
navigation and to protect the environment. There are many ways of reducing the
risks presented by tanker traffic. The best solution is the development of
alternative routes for fuel transit.
I am a member of
parliament for the Antalya region, which is the heart of the Turkish tourist
industry. I am well aware of the effects of marine pollution on the tourism
sector. Tourism can also cause problems. Just think of the yachts that release
their waste into the sea.
I again congratulate
the rapporteur and urge the Assembly to support the report.
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE
IN ELECTORAL MATTERS
Mr ATEŞ (Turkey).
– Thank you very much Mr President and dear colleagues. Please allow me to
thank the rapporteurs for the good job that they have done. In any genuinely
democratic society with a constitutional heritage, elections must observe five
fundamental principles: suffrage must be universal, equal, free, secret and
direct. Elections must also be held periodically. These are the main principles
of the European electoral heritage, and they are the most important tools for
strengthening democracy around the world.
Today, as we look back, it is
clear that the European electoral heritage made a great difference to the lives
of many citizens of the world. More people have been able to exercise their
right to political participation, freely expressing their vote and making sure
that their vote was not distorted. In this way, many people were able to
consolidate democracy and the rule of law in their countries throughout Europe.
However, experience has shown us that some serious problems are still being
encountered in relation to the conduct of elections, and the Council of Europe
should do something about that. Document 9624 provides an excellent opportunity
for the Assembly to do just this.
Lack of transparency,
lack of accountability, interference by executive authorities and the
restriction of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, are the
main areas in which problems are still being encountered in many European
countries. I believe that the key to solving many of these problems relating to
the electoral process is good governance. Transparency and good governance are
central to ensuring fair elections and, ultimately, to a democratic environment
and the rule of law. Transparency in the election process can be achieved by
setting up a consolidating mechanism for the financial disclosure of
candidates’ and political parties’ interests. The Council of Europe could also
devote more energy to promoting regulations on conflicts of interest. Also, the
rights and obligations of political parties need to be made very clear.
The citizens of
Europe also expect public officials to be increasingly responsive to public
information campaigns and investigative journalism both during and after
elections. The role of the independent media is vital in that regard. All too
often, in transitional societies, the media are free but not yet independent.
The Council of Europe can help to strengthen an independent media capable of
raising public awareness at local and national levels and promoting public
access to information, resulting in a more informed civil society capable of
exacting good governance.
Last but not least,
ensuring the more effective participation of women in electoral processes is
also vital. We need to continue to focus on achieving the more balanced
participation of women in electoral activities in some regions, in particular
as candidates.
SUPPRESSION OF
TERRORISM
Mr MERCAN (Turkey). – First, I thank the rapporteur
for her work. This report successfully clarifies the draft protocol amending
the European Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. The revision of the
convention has been on the Assembly’s agenda on several occasions, and the need
for revision has gained much more urgency – it has become imperative –
following the attacks of 11 September.
Despite the continuing lack of consensus on a definition of terrorism, the
deterrence of terrorist acts is still the most important issue facing the
world. Certainly, the lack of an internationally accepted definition of
terrorism has been a major obstacle to meaningful global countermeasures.
The events of 11 September were not the first or the last act of
terrorism. The United States is not the only country that has been subject to
such violence. For example, Turkey is one of the few countries to have faced
multi-dimensional terrorist attacks in the past few decades. Turkey has always
said that terrorism, whatever its cause, should be seen as a threat to all
humanity regardless of race, religion, ideology or country and it renewed its
call for “international solidarity and co-operation” after the inhumane attacks
of 11 September.
Turkey advocates the view that universal rules should prevail in the fight
against terrorism and argues that terrorism cannot be classified into different
groups. It has stressed the importance of having only one definition of
terrorism for the entire world and of fighting it globally as well as
regionally. In the light of the continuous threat from terrorism, it is
imperative that the co-operation of the Council of Europe member states that
share the same values is reinforced and depoliticised in all cases.
We should adopt such a pragmatic approach, and I cannot but support the draft
protocol amending the 1977 Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism. However,
the draft protocol gives rise to some issues of concern that might jeopardise
the achievement of our ultimate goals. First, the existence of a right to enter
reservations to the convention is the main obstacle. The suppression of
terrorism must entail full co-operation and the effective fulfilment of the
commitments undertaken. The right to enter a reservation does not contribute to
the aim of depoliticising the co-operation between contracting parties.
Moreover, the European Committee on Crime Problems has not been effective in
its monitoring role, but that role is still maintained in the draft protocol.
The greatest tangible development brought about by the draft protocol is the
creation of a follow-up mechanism that could open the way for “monitoring” the
correct implementation of a right to a reservation.
Given that terrorism is a long-term phenomenon and given the difficulties and
the impasse in the work of the United Nations, we should consider adopting new
and more comprehensive anti-terrorism instruments that would strengthen
international co-operation and criminalise terrorist acts. Therefore, I fully
support the work carried out by the Multidisciplinary Group on International
Action Against Terrorism – the GMT – to develop a programme of action against
terrorism. I hope that the work of the GMT will be implemented as soon as
possible and will be followed by clearly defined actions, such as the drafting
or recommendations, declarations, conventions or framework conventions.
SITUATION OF YOUNG MIGRANTS IN EUROPE
Mr GÜLÇIÇEK (Turkey) thanked the rapporteur for his
excellent work. Migration was an important subject for society at large and
affected every country. Public opinion was exerting pressure to introduce
stricter border controls but migration was still out of control.
Turkey was both an asylum country and a transit country for migration to the
EU. Turkey could not deal with the problems of migration alone. In particular
harmonisation of repatriation policies had to be addressed.
Political instability caused migration, and criminal organisations had grown up
to profit from the situation. In the long term a strategy was required to
address the causes of migration. Potential migrants should be provided with
information about target countries and discouraged from connections with
criminal organisations.