Immigration and the problems it causes in our country is becoming a national issue. The government is making an enormous effort and is fighting under extremely adverse conditions due to the instrumentalization of migratory flows by Turkey, which systematically and daily pushes hundreds of illegal immigrants through the Green Line to the areas controlled by the Republic.
This is the problem and we expect parties like the Democratic Party (DIKO) to raise it in their public discourse if they really want to help tackle the problem. Instead, DIKO, with a poorly argued statement, is populist, talking about mismanagement of the problem by the government.
They know in DIKO that due to the arrival of 13,200 new asylum seekers, for 2021 alone, tens of millions of Cypriot taxpayers' money had to be paid for the accommodation of these persons. They know very well in DIKO that at the same time with the passing of the legislation on sham marriages, they have almost been reduced to zero.
They also know that with the decisive decisions of the Council of Ministers we have eliminated the problem of sham students. And much more they know that by shortening the time for applicants to submit appeals we were able in 2021 to process almost 15,000 asylum applications and reject 9,328 of them.
So what delay is DIKO talking about?
It also mentions that we failed to implement voluntary return mechanisms while no other European country was able to complete 2,320 voluntary returns for 2021.
It also mentions that we failed to implement voluntary return mechanisms while no other European country was able to complete 2,320 voluntary returns for 2021. It is truly regrettable that such a serious issue for our country is becoming an object of populism to gain temporary party points.
The whole of society recognises that the problem we are facing today is due to Turkey's methodical tactics and the hybrid attack we are now receiving with the instrumentalisation of the migration issue and the exploitation of human suffering. Everyone knows that traffickers are making money in and out of Cyprus on the backs of unsuspecting migrants. Everyone knows that property owners are exploiting migrants by cramming them into unsuitable accommodation and getting rich at their expense. And everyone knows very well that others have set up an industry of illegal and undocumented work that makes our country a magnet for immigration. These are the cumulative challenges that we face and that we are struggling to manage.
So the least we expect from the political forces is responsible positions on a problem that now touches our towns and villages, each and every one of us, and not empty slogans.
(Ephys)
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