Important to timely streamline CSTO states' migration laws - Putin

MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax) - Steps to streamline migration laws of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states should be taken timely, giving security guarantees to the local population, as well as guarantees that migrants' rights will be observed, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

"Legislators of the CSTO countries have been making a considerable contribution to harmonizing legal regulation of the work of the relevant agencies and special services as well. A migration security concept and recommendations on how to update legislation on countering illegal migration have been prepared timely," Putin said at a meeting with the speakers of the CSTO countries' parliaments on Monday.

Both Russia and its CSTO partners are interested in that, "because everything should be adopted in time," he said. Local residents ought to feel secure, confident and safe, while new people arriving in an area should be ready to work and understand where they are coming to, should know the language of the country where they plan to live and work, take advantage of social opportunities and guarantees, and so should their family members, Putin said.

"I'd like to repeat it again: it is also necessary to ensure a comfortable environment for people who live in this or that country on a permanent basis, are citizens of this country and of course demand that the state safeguard their rights, give them guarantees as regards labor legislation and security. We should certainly take that into consideration," Putin said.