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- Ελληνικά
We continue in the most intense way our efforts and contacts with the aim of rolling out and implementing immediate solutions to the escalating migration crisis and in this direction I had a meeting today with the Lebanese Ambassador Claude El Hajal.
The serious problem of migration, we reiterate, cannot be solved with catchy slogans, impractical proposals and extreme attitudes, but with the right policies, convincing arguments and demanding the necessary European assistance.
The point of reference is the intergovernmental agreement on returns with Lebanon, which was reaffirmed in 2020 in the context of good understanding and cooperation on critical issues. We understand the difficult political situation in Lebanon, but we must remember that we are a country facing the consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation, with serious demographic problems and we cannot allow the current situation to continue, let alone have to manage a new migratory wave of irregular/illegal migrants.
Therefore, the government must demand, through political actions, on the one hand, the immediate implementation of the agreement and, on the other hand, as Cyprus, we must exert pressure through our status as an EU member state and mediate so that the EU intervenes to enable Lebanon to manage the criticality of the situation.
Specifically on the issues of strengthening maritime patrols, I am aware that specific vessels have been purchased and the government should let us know where the issue stands and how it can be implemented immediately.
At the same time, we reiterate and emphasize in detail that the special status of automatic legal protection enjoyed by Syrian migrants should be lifted immediately, which also puts pressure on Lebanon.
I have informed the Ambassador that we are taking concrete steps and demanding that the European Union immediately review the legal status of Syria in order to reduce migration flows to both Lebanon and Cyprus.
Today I am preparing a letter - an appeal to my counterparts and we are considering a number of other initiatives in this direction.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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