The Director General of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Costas Constantinou, received on 08/04/2022 a group of 24 members of the German Parliament, as well as representatives of the German Embassy in Cyprus.
The purpose of the meeting was to inform the German delegation about the situation of the issue of migration and applicants for international protection in Cyprus.
Dr. Constantinou made an extensive presentation, outlining the current situation regarding the management of the increased migration flows in Cyprus and the challenges that Cyprus has to face.
The Director General explained the migration policy of the Republic of Cyprus and presented relevant statistics, highlighting the increasing trend in the number of migrant arrivals in Cyprus over the last seven years.
He noted that most irregular migrants arrive from Turkey to the occupied areas of Cyprus and from there they are channeled by traffickers to the free areas, through the Green Line, which is not an external border of the Republic, which makes the control of these flows an extremely difficult task. He also stressed the instrumentalisation of the migration issue by Turkey.
Finally, information was given on the "Pounara" First Reception Centre, as well as the two Accommodation Centres in Kofinou and Lakes, while the procedure for examining applications for international protection was explained.
The German delegation showed keen interest in the situation in Cyprus with regard to the migration issue and thanked Dr. Constantinou for the information he received, which, he said, contributed to the formation of a better picture of the migration issue.
On Saturday 9/4/2022, the German delegation visited the Kofinou and Limnes Accommodation Centres.
On Saturday 9/4/2022, the German delegation visited the Kofinou and Limnes Accommodation Centres.
(EFYs)
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