[B-0]22244[B-1]
[B-2]MFA responds to reports on Pournara "We have never shown that the ever-increasing migration is shaping angelic conditions."[B-3]
[B-4]Cyprus, for the fifth consecutive year, is the member state receiving the highest number of applicants for international protection in proportion to its population, with the percentage of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection amounting to 4.4% of the population of Cyprus, the Interior Ministry said.[B-5]
[B-6]
[B-7][B-8][B-9]Cyprus the country in the EU that receives the most migrants, PM tells European Council[B-10][B-11]
[B-12]
[B-13]In response to recent press reports about the "Pournara" First Reception Centre, the Ministry of Interior notes that a total of more than 12 applications have been submitted so far [B-14]for 2021.B-15][B-16][B-17][B-15][B-16][B-17][B-17] The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly referred to the state of emergency in which our country finds itself.[B-18][B-19]"So instead of some people presenting the problem as if it were something new and shooting at the Government as if it had remained inactive and indifferent, let them answer the questions if what they want is to open the borders of Cyprus, with no weights and measures, and turn it into a huge reception and hospitality centre, no matter what our capabilities are, no matter what the economic price for Cypriot citizens," it is noted.[B-20][B-21]Both our country and its citizens, it is stated, not only do not lack humanity and sensitivity, but have demonstrated it over time, we have all the goodwill and intention to welcome and accommodate people in real need and to support especially vulnerable groups of the population.[B-22][B-23][B-23] The Home Office says that[B-24] we have never shown that the ever-increasing immigration issue is creating angelic conditions for our society and for migrants themselves.[B-25][B-26][B-27]"We have never hidden the fact that the country's asylum and reception system has exceeded its limits. That in the First Reception Centre "Pournara", with a capacity of 800 people, the number of people staying has exceeded 2,500, with a capacity of more than 310%."[B-28]
[B-29]Never, the Ministry of Interior continues, have we closed our mouths to conceal that our country is in a state of emergency and that the capacity to accommodate more migrants has long since been exhausted.[B-30][B-31]"How many times have we mentioned that the increasing flows have stranded the relevant state agencies to respond to the growing arrivals? How many times have we said that disproportionate pressures are victimizing those who really need it? How many times have we talked about exorbitant numbers that we cannot manage? How many times have we pointed to the enormous pressures and finger-pointed the instrumentalisation of migrants? How many times have we referred to demographic alteration, ghettoisation and increased crime in certain areas?", the questions are asked.
There is no need, says the Home Office, for people to point out the problem to us, because we have never swept it under the carpet, because it is a problem, but one about which we have never been complacent.[B-32][B-33]On the contrary, the statement continues, we declare that never before have so many measures been taken and never before have reception and asylum examination procedures been so improved as in no other administration.[B-34][B-35]It notes that we have pressed the EU many times and asked, as never before, for a helping hand from our European partners.[B-36][B-37]It is recalled that recently the President of the Republic, in a letter to the President of the European Commission, requested emergency support and assistance to manage the crisis. It is also recalled that, among other things, "we submitted a set of proposals, which were adopted by the relevant MED5 Ministers, in which we ask the EU to roll out specific measures for the protection of the European borders and the Green Line, which is not a border; and it is something that is included in the Ministerial Declaration for the first time".[B-38][B-39]We are trying, says the Home Office, to close black holes in the 180-kilometre-long ceasefire line, which undoubtedly creates unique conditions for the growth of irregular migration, and we are continuing to strengthen measures.[B-40][B-41]Already, it notes, we have greatly increased the capacity of Reception Centres to handle the disproportionate, for our country, numbers. At the same time, it is added, we cannot fill Cyprus with Reception Centres.[B-42][B-43]"We provide incentives to migrants for voluntary returns to their countries of origin. We have focused, as never before, our efforts on processing manifestly unfounded applications with fast-track procedures and already since 01/01/21 when the new immigration policy was implemented, we have pursued 14,762 decisions as opposed to 6,468 in 2020 and 5,164 in 2019," it says.[B-44][B-45]We increased, without precedent, continues the Ministry of Interior, the number of Asylum Service officials for the examination of applications, so that the Asylum Service completes the primary examination and issues decisions within 10 days. At the same time we have increased, as never before, it adds, the number of judges of the Administrative Tribunal for International Protection, in order to speed up the appeal procedures.[B-46][B-47]"We have hit the root of the problem of bogus student arrivals and drastically reduced the cases of bogus marriages. We have promoted agreements with third countries and are increasing refunds. Unfortunately, however, it is not what we do domestically, as the Ministry of Interior," it says.B-48][B-49] Cyprus, it says, has been left alone at the mercy of a constant bombardment of an influx of migrants, pushed by Turkey as a result of the instrumentalisation and exploitation of human suffering by circuits that "sell" Cyprus as a cheap destination that opens the "gates of paradise" to Europe.[B-48][B-49] Cyprus, it says, has been left alone at the mercy of a constant bombardment of migrant influxes pushed by Turkey as a result of the instrumentalisation and exploitation of human suffering by circuits that "sell" Cyprus as a cheap destination that opens the "gates of paradise" to Europe.[B-50][B-51]"And we answer that yes, for these reasons, the numbers were not limited, despite our efforts. Unfortunately, Cyprus alone cannot carry such numbers on its shoulders, and this should be understood by some," the statement concludes.[B-52]
[B-53]Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to [B-54]Cyprus Times[B-55]
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or [B-56]Cyprus Times[B-57][B-58]
[B-59]Source[B-60]
[B-2]MFA responds to reports on Pournara "We have never shown that the ever-increasing migration is shaping angelic conditions."[B-3]
[B-4]Cyprus, for the fifth consecutive year, is the member state receiving the highest number of applicants for international protection in proportion to its population, with the percentage of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection amounting to 4.4% of the population of Cyprus, the Interior Ministry said.[B-5]
[B-6]
[B-7][B-8][B-9]Cyprus the country in the EU that receives the most migrants, PM tells European Council[B-10][B-11]
[B-12]
[B-13]In response to recent press reports about the "Pournara" First Reception Centre, the Ministry of Interior notes that a total of more than 12 applications have been submitted so far [B-14]for 2021.B-15][B-16][B-17][B-15][B-16][B-17][B-17] The Ministry of Interior has repeatedly referred to the state of emergency in which our country finds itself.[B-18][B-19]"So instead of some people presenting the problem as if it were something new and shooting at the Government as if it had remained inactive and indifferent, let them answer the questions if what they want is to open the borders of Cyprus, with no weights and measures, and turn it into a huge reception and hospitality centre, no matter what our capabilities are, no matter what the economic price for Cypriot citizens," it is noted.[B-20][B-21]Both our country and its citizens, it is stated, not only do not lack humanity and sensitivity, but have demonstrated it over time, we have all the goodwill and intention to welcome and accommodate people in real need and to support especially vulnerable groups of the population.[B-22][B-23][B-23] The Home Office says that[B-24] we have never shown that the ever-increasing immigration issue is creating angelic conditions for our society and for migrants themselves.[B-25][B-26][B-27]"We have never hidden the fact that the country's asylum and reception system has exceeded its limits. That in the First Reception Centre "Pournara", with a capacity of 800 people, the number of people staying has exceeded 2,500, with a capacity of more than 310%."[B-28]
[B-29]Never, the Ministry of Interior continues, have we closed our mouths to conceal that our country is in a state of emergency and that the capacity to accommodate more migrants has long since been exhausted.[B-30][B-31]"How many times have we mentioned that the increasing flows have stranded the relevant state agencies to respond to the growing arrivals? How many times have we said that disproportionate pressures are victimizing those who really need it? How many times have we talked about exorbitant numbers that we cannot manage? How many times have we pointed to the enormous pressures and finger-pointed the instrumentalisation of migrants? How many times have we referred to demographic alteration, ghettoisation and increased crime in certain areas?", the questions are asked.
There is no need, says the Home Office, for people to point out the problem to us, because we have never swept it under the carpet, because it is a problem, but one about which we have never been complacent.[B-32][B-33]On the contrary, the statement continues, we declare that never before have so many measures been taken and never before have reception and asylum examination procedures been so improved as in no other administration.[B-34][B-35]It notes that we have pressed the EU many times and asked, as never before, for a helping hand from our European partners.[B-36][B-37]It is recalled that recently the President of the Republic, in a letter to the President of the European Commission, requested emergency support and assistance to manage the crisis. It is also recalled that, among other things, "we submitted a set of proposals, which were adopted by the relevant MED5 Ministers, in which we ask the EU to roll out specific measures for the protection of the European borders and the Green Line, which is not a border; and it is something that is included in the Ministerial Declaration for the first time".[B-38][B-39]We are trying, says the Home Office, to close black holes in the 180-kilometre-long ceasefire line, which undoubtedly creates unique conditions for the growth of irregular migration, and we are continuing to strengthen measures.[B-40][B-41]Already, it notes, we have greatly increased the capacity of Reception Centres to handle the disproportionate, for our country, numbers. At the same time, it is added, we cannot fill Cyprus with Reception Centres.[B-42][B-43]"We provide incentives to migrants for voluntary returns to their countries of origin. We have focused, as never before, our efforts on processing manifestly unfounded applications with fast-track procedures and already since 01/01/21 when the new immigration policy was implemented, we have pursued 14,762 decisions as opposed to 6,468 in 2020 and 5,164 in 2019," it says.[B-44][B-45]We increased, without precedent, continues the Ministry of Interior, the number of Asylum Service officials for the examination of applications, so that the Asylum Service completes the primary examination and issues decisions within 10 days. At the same time we have increased, as never before, it adds, the number of judges of the Administrative Tribunal for International Protection, in order to speed up the appeal procedures.[B-46][B-47]"We have hit the root of the problem of bogus student arrivals and drastically reduced the cases of bogus marriages. We have promoted agreements with third countries and are increasing refunds. Unfortunately, however, it is not what we do domestically, as the Ministry of Interior," it says.B-48][B-49] Cyprus, it says, has been left alone at the mercy of a constant bombardment of an influx of migrants, pushed by Turkey as a result of the instrumentalisation and exploitation of human suffering by circuits that "sell" Cyprus as a cheap destination that opens the "gates of paradise" to Europe.[B-48][B-49] Cyprus, it says, has been left alone at the mercy of a constant bombardment of migrant influxes pushed by Turkey as a result of the instrumentalisation and exploitation of human suffering by circuits that "sell" Cyprus as a cheap destination that opens the "gates of paradise" to Europe.[B-50][B-51]"And we answer that yes, for these reasons, the numbers were not limited, despite our efforts. Unfortunately, Cyprus alone cannot carry such numbers on its shoulders, and this should be understood by some," the statement concludes.[B-52]
[B-53]Contents of this article including associated images are belongs to [B-54]Cyprus Times[B-55]
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or [B-56]Cyprus Times[B-57][B-58]
[B-59]Source[B-60]
