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- Ελληνικά
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs, Mr Aristos Damianou, had a meeting today with the Deputy Chairman of the corresponding Committee in the German Bundestag, Dr Lars Castellucci, who is visiting Cyprus as part of his tour of the region.
During the meeting, both sides noted the excellent level of relations between Cyprus and Germany at all levels and noted that the intensification of contacts and exchanges at the parliamentary level has contributed significantly to the promotion of parliamentary diplomacy and to better address common challenges.
Damianou stressed that part of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus has been illegally occupied by Turkey for fifty years and that the continued occupation and therefore the inability of the Republic of Cyprus to exercise effective control over the occupied areas makes it particularly difficult to manage the migratory flows entering the Republic from the occupied areas through the buffer zone, as a result of Turkey's instrumentalization of the issue. Therefore, he stressed, it is necessary to address the whole issue in a comprehensive and balanced manner, while taking into account the relevant humanitarian needs, the country's international binding obligations and its reception and hosting capacities. Damianou also informed the German MEP about the progress that Cyprus has achieved in this regard despite the challenges and problems that constantly arise. The volatile situation in the Middle East makes it difficult to address the root causes of the migration issue, he added, stressing that it is important for the European Union to collectively take responsibility for migratory flows and ensure the proper sharing of the burden of responsibility for these flows, thus supporting and relieving the frontline countries, such as Cyprus, which are under disproportionate migratory pressure.
Expressing understanding for the difficulties faced by Cyprus, Dr. Castellucci noted, among other things, that it is very important for the European Union to inform and raise awareness of the situation in Cyprus, both with regard to the illegal migratory flows from the occupied territories and with regard to the foreseeable possibility of a further influx of migrants as a result of a generalised crisis in the region, in order to provide all possible assistance and support to the authorities of the Republic for a better management of this major challenge. It is important, he noted, to have real solidarity between Member States and an equal sharing of the burden of responsibility for migratory flows.
Subsequently, views were exchanged on, inter alia, further ways of cooperation and joint actions at parliamentary level in this direction.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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