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The strengthening of infrastructure is an important pillar of the Government's migration policy, Interior Minister Mr. Constantine Ioannou, stressing that the construction of the 'LIMNES' Hospitality Centre and the Pre-departure Centre are important milestones in the efforts to strengthen Cyprus' capacity to manage migration pressures more effectively.
The Minister welcomed this morning the signing ceremony of the project "Construction of the LIMNES Accommodation Centre for Applicants for International Protection and the Pre-Repatriation Centre for persons to be repatriated", which took place at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works.
Present at the signing ceremony of the project were the Directors General of the Ministry of Interior and Transport, the Assistant Chief of Border Protection of the Cyprus Police, the Director of the Department of Planning and Zoning, as well as other officials.
The Contract was signed, on behalf of the Government, by the Deputy Director of the Department of Public Works Mr. Eleftherios Eleftheriou and on behalf of the Consortium "CYFIELD - IACOVOU (MN) JOINT VENTURE", by the Directors Mr. George Chrysochos and Mr. In his address during the signing ceremony, the Minister said that "today's signing of the contract marks the beginning of a very important project in the field of migration management".
"The strengthening of infrastructure is an important priority pillar for the Government's migration policy," the Minister said, adding that the two centres to be built "will enhance the capacity of the state to better manage the migration challenges and pressures faced by the Republic of Cyprus."
"The lack of infrastructure and detention facilities for migrants has been a hindrance to important processes in the sector, such as the faster processing of asylum procedures and the speeding up of migrant repatriation procedures," he said.
He then noted that the open Accommodation Centre for applicants for international protection in "Lakes", with a capacity of 1,000 persons, will be able to refer mainly those whose application for international protection has been rejected in the first instance.
He also noted that in the open Accommodation Centre for applicants for international protection in "Lakes", with a capacity of 1,000 persons, there will be the possibility of referring mainly those whose application for international protection has been rejected in the first instance. It will also accommodate, he added, "applicants who come from safe countries of origin and whose application for asylum is examined under an expedited procedure under the Refugee Law."
Our aim is to make their identification easier and more immediate in case of a final negative decision to repatriate them to their country, Mr. Ioannou explained.
In combination with the second Centre, the Pre-Repatriation Centre, located near the Accommodation Centre, this will be achieved, according to Mr.
He stressed that "the existing infrastructure, the Detention Centre for Forbidden Migrants located in Menoyia, which has a capacity of only 126 persons, was deemed insufficient to handle the returns of the rapidly increasing number of irregular migrants of recent years."
He said that "the existing infrastructure, the Detention Centre for Forbidden Migrants located in Menoyia, which has a capacity of only 126 persons, was deemed insufficient to handle the returns of the rapidly increasing number of irregular migrants of recent years."
He said that "the existing infrastructure, the Detention Centre for Forbidden Migrants located in Menoyia, which has a capacity of only 126 persons, was deemed insufficient to handle the returns of the rapidly increasing number of irregular migrants of recent years.
He noted that this is a gap that was diagnosed about two years ago, highlighting the need to upgrade our infrastructure.
The two centres will be completed within 24 months and will be co-financed by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Republic of Cyprus.
The co-financing, Mr Ioannou explained, is "the result of the successful selection of the Proposal submitted to the European Commission by the European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, with partners the Department of Public Works and the Department of Water Development, in a competitive process and congratulated the Department, the Unit and the partners involved in the submission of the Proposal.
It should be noted that the architectural plans of the Centre, which comply with all the specifications required by the European Union and on the basis of which European funding was secured, were prepared by the Department of Urban Planning and Zoning.
The Minister, after reiterating that "[T]he lack of infrastructure, such as the Pre-Removal Centre, has slowed down the process of returns and deportations", said that these projects "constitute important milestones in our efforts to strengthen Cyprus' capacity to manage migratory pressures more effectively".
He then thanked all the agencies and departments of the state involved for their contribution, conveying additional thanks to the European Commission, as well as to all European agencies for their continued support.
"I hope that both the creation of the Centres and the other measures we are taking as a Government will continue to have a positive impact in terms of results and numbers, highlighting good and effective management in the areas of asylum and migration", concluded the Minister of Interior.
[FOR THE MINISTER'S FULL SPEECH SEE. here]
The Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. Antonis Koutsoullis, in his intervention, said that on the part of the Department of Public Works, the required procedures concerning the preliminary studies, the preparation of documents and tenders have been completed, so that today the signing of the Contract for the construction of the two Centres can take place.
The project, informed the Director General, will be implemented through the Design, Construction and Maintenance method and the value of the Contract amounts to €84.888,000, plus VAT.
"The design and construction works will be completed within 24 months, while the Contractor Contractor will also be responsible, under the contract, for the 8-year maintenance of the project," he said.
Coordination for the implementation of the project will be undertaken by the Public Works Department, while it will be monitored by a team comprising officials from the Public Works Department, the Department of Electromechanical Services and the Audit Division of the Ministry, he said.
The project, Koutsoullis added, includes the construction of facilities with a total area of 27,000 m2, and alterations to existing buildings with a total area of about 1,400 m2. In addition to the basic infrastructure in each Centre, he added, it will include areas for Common Activities, Services, Sports Facilities, Recreation areas/Playgrounds, communal gardens and outdoor parking areas.
In conclusion, Mr.Koutsoullis mentioned that a Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant will be constructed near the project, through another contract, which will meet the needs of the project as well as the needs of the adjacent Reception and Accommodation Centre for Applicants for International Protection (K.Y.Y.F.A.D.P.), in Kofinou.
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