Chapitre III - UNITAR

served as Secretariat for the Berne Initiative. My sincere thanks go to Mr.
Gervais Appave, Director of MPRC; Dr. Richard C. Perruchoud, Director of the
International Migration Law and Legal Affairs Department, Ms. Michele Klein
Solomon, Deputy Director of MPRC; and Ms. Kerstin Bartsch, Research
Officer, International Migration Law and Legal Affairs Department. They have
done tremendous work in compiling, analysing and formulating the Common
Understandings and Effective Practices which form the basis of the IAMM.
They have repeatedly revised and refined the draft agenda and integrated the
numerous comments received in the four regional consultations into the document.
They have also served as our valued partners and advisers throughout the
Berne Initiative process. Moreover, I owe special gratitude to Mr. Brunson
McKinley, Director General of IOM, for being our friend and partner throughout
the entire Berne Initiative process. I look forward to a continuous and fruitful
partnership between IOM and the Federal Office for Migration (FOM).
I also take this opportunity to thank our partners at the Federal Department of
Foreign Affairs for their support, in particular Ambassador Urs Ziswiler, Head
of the Political Directorate and his team at the Political Division IV, namely
Ambassador Peter Maurer, Mr. Michael Winzap, Mr. Alberto Groff and
Ms. Tamara Münger. I also thank Ambassador Walter Fust, Director General
of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation for his support of the
process, and especially his collaborator Mr. Markus Reisle at the Division of
Conflict Prevention and Transformation for his precious input.
I certainly owe special gratitude to my own staff at the FOM, in particular the
team of International Affairs. Ms. Anne Grethe Nielsen, Head of International
Affairs, and her collaborators Ms. Rascha Osman and Ms. Claudia Schneider
have over the past years worked hard to develop and promote the Berne
Initiative. I also extend my thanks to Ambassador Dominik Langenbacher,
former Delegate for Migration Dialogue at the Federal Office for Refugees, for
his efforts in presenting and promoting the Berne Initiative all over the world.
My deep gratitude also goes to the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs,
Mr. Jean-Daniel Gerber, who as former Director of the Federal Office for
Refugees launched the Berne Initiative process and provided the inspiration
and encouragement for the elaboration of the IAMM.
Additional thanks go to all participants of the Berne Initiative Steering Group
that have offered valuable support and critical input, namely representatives
from UNHCR, GCIM, ICMPD, IGC, IMP, ILO, the Justice and Home Affairs
Directorate of the European Commission, as well as the Swedish
Government.
Federal Office for Migration
Foreword
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