Another 104 migrants arrived last night via the green line, according to Interior Minister Nikos Nouri, who said that "adding up the 317 from the previous 24 hours" demonstrates how "extremely serious and important" the problem is.
At the same time, Mr. Nouris stressed that it is imperative to effectively manage the Green Line but "at the same time maximize the number of returns to the so-called safe countries from which almost 85% of our migratory flows originate".
In statements after a meeting with a delegation of the EPP, headed by its President Marinos Sizopoulos, which took place in the context of the cycle of contacts that the Minister of Interior has with the parliamentary parties, Mr. Nouris said that during the meeting the EDEK was thoroughly informed "both on the issue of immigration and the problem that our country is facing and the escalation", as he said, "which has been observed in recent times with the directed channeling of migrants from Turkey, which clearly systematically instrumentalizes these people to the detriment of our country."
He added that these people come from sub-Saharan African countries and are channeled into the free areas through the occupied territories via the Green Line.
"I have informed about the initiatives and actions we are taking to address the problem, with particular emphasis and always focusing on the fact that it is necessary to effectively manage the Green Line but at the same time maximize the number of returns to the so-called safe countries from which almost 85% of our migratory flows come from," he underlined.
The Interior Minister also said that he informed the EPP and about the initiatives and the way of managing the Ukrainians arriving in our country on the occasion of what is happening in Ukraine with Russia's invasion.
Finally, Mr. Nouris thanked the EPP both for the submission of specific proposals and for its availability of both manpower and ideas, enriching the effort, as he said, "that the Ministry of Interior is making in managing what is becoming a very big problem for our country."
Nouris said thatlast night there was an arrival of another 104 people from the Green Line and "added up to the 317 of the previous 24 hours, the problem is extremely serious and significant."
Mr. Sizopoulos expressed thanks to the Minister of Foreign Affairs both for the constructive meeting they had today and for the fact that with actions and initiatives, as he said, "he is trying to give a solution to one of the biggest problems facing our country today, which is the migration issue."
"A problem which is essentially to a very large extent exploited by Turkey as a form of hybrid war against the Republic of Cyprus," he added.
It is for this reason, according to Sizopoulos, that while we should ensure that we safeguard the human rights of migrants, on the other hand, we should not create huge social problems in our country, which will create other repercussions and serious side effects."
He also said that "it is no coincidence that unfortunately at the moment 5% of our population are in fact the majority of illegal immigrants" and added that "for this very reason and with constructive synergy on the part of the EPP we should support all those policies, which in essence will ensure these two elements that I mentioned".
The EPP President said that they have promised to the Ministry of Interior that from the EPP's side they will continue both the contacts and cooperation and the proposals that they will submit, adding that "the Ministry of Interior will have the responsibility to evaluate them and use them in the way they would like."
Source: CNA
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