The real dimension and source of the problem of migration flows in the Republic of Cyprus, which is none other than the transit of migrants through the Green Line, will be conveyed to the EU and their countries by the members of the EU High Level Network on Returns.
The members of the Network, accompanied by the Director of the Office of the Minister of Interior, Loizo Michael, visited the Green Line in Old Nicosia today where they were given a tour and an explanation of the source of the problem.
"We had the opportunity today to show colleagues from the 27 EU Member States that make up the High Level Returns Network the source of the migration problem in Cyprus, which is none other than the Green Line through which we receive 95% of illegal crossings every year," said Mr. He added that as the Republic of Cyprus and having won the praise of both the European Commission and the EU member states for our performance in returns, we thought it right, he noted, to point out the problem in order to be able to explain in this way Cyprus' success in returns.
He added that as the Republic of Cyprus and having won the praise of both the European Commission and the EU member states for our performance in returns, we thought it right, he noted, to point out the problem in order to be able to explain in this way Cyprus' success in returns.
Michael said that today it was explained to Network members from EU member states that the 18.5 thousand irregular migrants who came through the Green Line this year are the ones who are creating the big strain on the country's asylum system.
He pointed out, at the same time, that it is for this reason that the efforts made by the Ministry of Interior to strengthen the returns sector, having so far managed to return about 7 thousand migrants, acquire substance and importance.
Asked if the members of the Network have realized the magnitude of the problem by visiting the Green Line, Michael said that it is very different to hear about the problem than to see it in person. "This is exactly why we chose to bring them to the Green Line because they have indeed understood what it is that creates the peculiar situation in the Republic of Cyprus and what it is that causes the migration problem, which cannot be solved by conventional means."
Asked what the Republic of Cyprus hopes and aims to achieve with the visit, Mr. Michael expressed the certainty that the Europeans will convey and transmit to their countries what they have experienced today, which, as they themselves have said, is unprecedented.
He said that the Returns Coordinator has also indicated that she will forward this information to the EU so that, in addition to the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus and the Interior Minister, they too will become ambassadors of the problem Cyprus is facing.
Source: CNA
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
