He is not satisfied with the pace of placing physical barriers and setting up the team that will monitor the Green Line against irregular migrants, Interior Minister Nikos Nouris said, citing the fence in Poland as an example.
He noted that the Republic of Cyprus respects human rights and asks the EU for more support to address the disproportionate burden it bears in the migration issue.
After the end of the memorial service at Agios Ioannis Pitsilia and asked to comment on a reference to his speech to the EU on the migration issue. Nouris said that in 2020 the illegal flows from Turkey to Greece had reached 78,000, while in 2021 Greece was able to reduce the flows to 4,100.
"I would be happy if we could record similar results in the Republic of Cyprus. Before the EU fingers or admonishes a frontline member state facing a problem of this magnitude, it would be good to address the perpetrator of the problem, which is Turkey[/B], in the same indicative way," he said.
It is Turkey, he added, that is systematically instrumentalizing migration in the Eastern Mediterranean region, towards Greece and Cyprus.
It is Turkey, he added, that is systematically instrumentalizing migration in the Eastern Mediterranean region, towards Greece and Cyprus. As such, he said, he believes that an indicative reference to Turkey should be made before making any admonitions to Greece.
To a journalist's remark that European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ilva Johansson threatened Greece with a cut in funds, "more than an admonition," Mr. Nouris said that "I will leave that aside", adding that Cyprus is one of the frontline countries facing by far the most serious problem and the most serious burden, the migration issue, which "has taken on the proportions of a flood". He reiterated that he would be happy if he could repeat the same positive results of reducing illegal crossings as Greece.
Asked if he believed that Cyprus could hear the same exhortations from Ms Johansson, the Interior Minister replied, "we are doing what is humanly possible and we can do much more and I want to believe that the EU will be our helper and supporter. No one has ever said that we should treat these people in the wrong way. The Republic of Cyprus does not, has not done so and I am unequivocal on that despite comments to the contrary from some people."
Therefore, he continued, he does not believe that there is any reason for the EU to be critical of Cyprus, but Cyprus is entitled to claim more support from the EU. "We are grateful and for what they are offering us at the moment, but yes, we need support because we have many peculiarities and we have a huge burden to carry." He noted that the EU recognizes that this burden is very heavy for Cyprus, but they want to see this support in practice, he added.
There is no other way out for Cyprus than to limit the flows from the Green Line, to maximize the returns and deportations of those who are not entitled to stay in the Republic. "This is the help we want, this is the support we are demanding, and I want to hope that it will be put into practice."
To a reporter's remark that the European Commissioner said that the repatriations carried out by Greece are illegal and what about ours, the MFA said he had no further comment to make. "We are all judged by the result," he said, saying that as a European frontline country, at the moment we are facing this problem, we have contractual obligations, as Greece has to Europe itself, to guard its external borders. And we, in our turn - he continued - to guard the Green Line, which is the transit area for illegal immigrants.
Mr. Nouris said that we observe what we have to observe in terms of human rights, but "the indigenous inhabitants of this semi-inhabited island also have human rights and therefore Europe, yes, should support us even more actively so that we can solve this problem."
Asked about the Ministry's plans for the Green Line, following the approval of the 300 who will guard it, Nouris said that he is not satisfied with the pace of either the physical barriers or the pace of setting up this unit. He believes, he said, that "reasons of national necessity dictate that there should even be a bypass of certain procedures, in the sense of always respecting legality."
Everyone needs to understand, he continued, that we need to move at a very fast pace. Nikos Nouris said that Poland announced yesterday that it had completed a 165 km long and 6 m high fence, with all the technology at its disposal, within 6 months.
It is unthinkable for the Republic of Cyprus, which is facing a disproportionately higher burden, to move at this pace, the MFA Minister said."
"It is imperative that we move faster and in this direction I would like to make an appeal to citizens: everyone is experiencing the problem we are facing. There are no magic recipes and solutions. Therefore, I think it is only right that everyone should show the necessary - dare I say it - philanthropy so that we can carry out this difficult task."
Source: CNA
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