Migration in the CIS 1997-98 [antikvár]

Migration FlowsMigration Flows in 1997In 1997 795/5001 persons migrated within the CIS and Baltic region.This figure is 11 per cent less than in 1996, and about 4 times less than in1989. There was a decline in migration in all CIS countries - with thesingle exception of Kazakstan - and in all categories of migratorymovements.One of the reasons for this reduction in migration is because 1997was the first year without armed conflicts since the countries of the CISbecame sovereign States.Most migration in the CIS in 1997 continues to be either to or fromthe Russian Federation. In 1997, immigration to the Russian Federationfrom other countries in the CIS and Baltic region declined by only7.5 per cent compared to 1996. By contrast, emigration from the RussianFederation fell by 20 per cent. The Russian Federation is the main targetcountry for most emigrants from the CIS. Whilst most CIS countriescontinue to be affected more by emigration rather than immigration, thereverse is true for the Russian Federation.Although the fighting may have stopped, immigration has notincreased significantly in those countries, which have suffered mostfrom recent armed conflicts, such as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia andTajikistan. Widespread destruction, economic collapse, unemploymentand other factors have encouraged the populations of these countries toseek temporary work abroad or to emigrate permanently. The exodus ofthe Russian-speaking population continues from the Kyrgyz Republic,Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, although inter-ethnic tension in thesecountries has eased appreciably and emigration has declined. InKazakstan, however, 1997 witnessed an increase in tension and asignificant rise in emigration accompanied by a fall in immigration.Ethnic Russians accounted for more than half (54%) of thosemigrating within the CIS while 16 per cent of migrants were Ukrainians,and approximately 6 per cent were Transcaucasian peoples (Azeris,Armenians and Georgians). The proportion of Slavic peoples is