Cyprus is the undesirable leader among European countries in terms of asylum applications by population for the year 2021, Minister of Interior Mr. Nikos Nouris, saying that the number of the second-ranked country, which is Austria, is far behind.
In statements to journalists after a meeting with the General Secretary of AKEL, Mr. Stefanos Stefanou and a delegation of the party, the Interior Minister said that he had been briefed on the migration issue, but also gave a detailed presentation on the situation with the Ukrainian issue.
"I have informed in a very specific way about the policies that the government is following, always adopting the European directive on the management of Ukrainians."
"I have also informed in a very specific way about the policies that the government is following, always adopting the European directive on the management of Ukrainians.
He added that "to date, 1,232 Ukrainians have applied to the Ministry of Interior for temporary protection," noting that the number of Ukrainians in the Republic is much higher. "But this should not lead us to complacency," he said, explaining that many of these people have apparently "secured either friendly or related persons accommodation and residence for a certain period of time."
"What we are monitoring, and it is a point that keeps us alert, is that we have had steady arrivals of 100-180 Ukrainians every day for the last few days," Nouris said, adding that "as long as the conflicts and the war continue, we will have exactly this picture."
"It is an additional reason for the whole of Europe, for the whole of humanity, in addition to the humanitarian one," he said, "for each of us, from our own point of view, to make our efforts to end this war."
Referring to the issue of migration, he said he informed the SG that "unfortunately, 2022 has started with the worst omens."
"What we have seen in recent weeks in the Republic is clearly measurable and it is an extremely worrying problem."
"4.793 are the new asylum seekers in the first days of 2022 alone," he said, noting that by contrasting this number with the total number of 13,500, which is considered particularly high for 2021, "it becomes clear that if the flows continue in this way, we will have a huge problem in the current year."
He reported that the number of residents at the "Pournara" First Reception Centre has reached 2,957, saying that it is understood that "this overcrowding also creates enormous difficulties in the management of these people".
He noted that despite the fact that hundreds of people are being transferred to the Lakes "unfortunately since there is this influx from the Green Line, because they are all from the Green Line and all coming from Turkey and the vast majority of them, more than 90% are Africans, this creates an additional problem."
He said he had also informed the Secretary General of AKEL about the urgent letter he would send to the European Commission accompanied by evidence. "I am referring to their travel documents," he explained, which include all the security safeguards. He added that "they clearly demonstrate that these people arrived coming via Istanbul to the occupied airport of 'Tympou' from Africa, and were brought, after previously arranging for them to be given a 60-day residence visa in the occupied territories." They were driven to the free areas, the Minister added, through the Green Line.
"At the same time, of course, we are constantly focused on return issues and despite the difficulties, he said, "we have managed to return 685 irregular migrants to their countries."
"At the same time, of course, we are constantly focused on return issues and despite the difficulties that exist," he said, "we have managed to return 685 irregular migrants to their countries. "Of course this number, compared to the number of inflows, you understand that it has to be maximised in order to have a balance in the system," he added.
"The problem is well known and understood by all and it requires in my assessment that we all join forces to deal with it and manage it in the best possible way - and when I say in the best possible way I am not only referring to inflows but also to returns; I am even referring to the management of these people who are already in the Republic," he said.
"I have also informed that the Ministry of Interior has already tendered the four-year contract in terms of feeding for the Centres that we have with an expenditure of 34 million, 30 million of which will be paid by the Republic of Cyprus and national resources and 4 million by the EU," the Minister said.
He said that "precisely because the number of migratory flows and the number of people staying in Pournara has skyrocketed, months ago we had started the process of modernization and upgrading of the Pournara Centre and we have prepared the comprehensive, costed plan for the modernization of Pournara, which amounts to 20 million euros. This amount, he said, "we cannot cover as the Republic of Cyprus and we are submitting a proposal this week to the European Commission for additional funding in order to upgrade the Centre and make it even more modern in terms of infrastructure."
"So it is clear that the actions of the Ministry of Interior and the Government are continuous in the direction of addressing these problems, including the actions of the Deputy Ministry of Welfare, which concerns the issues of unaccompanied minors and not only, and the issues of subsidy policy, which is the responsibility of this Deputy Ministry."
Asked to comment on an article about asylum seekers receiving double benefits and registering as unemployed to receive benefits, the Minister referred to the relevant departments as far as benefit policy is concerned. He also referred to the policy of the Ministry of Interior saying that it highlights the correctness of the policy implemented from November 1, 2021, whereby, as he explained, at the same time as someone leaves the Pournara Centre and is served with a rejection of their asylum application, the Minister of Interior also issues another decision. He clarified in this regard that "the 'Lakes' centre, which is fully operational, is specified as his place of residence and sustenance". He added that the competent Deputy Ministry is informed, so that there is no additional burden on the Republic by granting allowances.
"Therefore, from the side of the Ministry of Interior, with this methodology, we have now given exactly our dimension in terms of how we manage this issue and we believe that we have to end any impunity that existed in the issues of the allowance policy," he said. "From our side, with the particular management we are doing, I think we have given a very good tool to other relevant bodies to crack down on this particular issue," he added.
In response to a reporter's question regarding the argumentation he will develop with regard to the request for funds from the EU, the minister said that "we have more than enough arguments regarding the request for these funds due to the huge number of flows that exist in the Republic and of course the necessity to improve the infrastructure.
"Regarding the additional 20 million euros that I have said, if the EU wants to assist us in the effort to improve the infrastructure and welcome these people, clearly we must be helped," the Minister said."
Referring to the pre-removal centre, he said that a grant of almost 60 million euros is requested for the "Lakes" area and explained that "it will be used to help us in the returns". It is a necessary infrastructure project, which the European Commission has also recognized that we need."
"I think what we will do is that we will intensify at all levels, either at the level of the Minister of Interior, or the Minister of Foreign Affairs or the President of the Republic of Cyprus himself, so that the message goes well that Cyprus, which today registers what we consider to be an undesirable first place, among European countries to be the country with a great distance unfortunately from the second, Austria, in terms of the number of asylum seekers in the last year," the Minister said. "It is something that needs to be mitigated so that we can manage in the best possible way those already residing in the Republic."
For his part, AKEL Secretary General Stefanos Stefanou said that the meeting, which was at the invitation of the Interior Minister.
He noted that the meeting included an update on developments in the refugee and migration issues.
"The meeting was finally held at a time when the complex and complicated issue of migration and refugees has become even more complex and difficult due to the war in Ukraine and the refugee flows caused by the invasion and war," he added.
In our view, he continued, this complex and complicated issue can only be addressed if there are holistic, comprehensive European policies and approaches, which address the problem first and foremost within the framework of solidarity primarily with those countries that are the receiving countries of refugee and migrant flows and Cyprus is one of them.
(EFYs)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
