The readiness to strengthen and increase cooperation between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Interior in the field of returns was expressed during the meeting of the Minister of Interior Mr. Nikos Nouri and the Director of the IOM Regional Office for the EU, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, Mr. Ola Henrikson, early this morning at the Ministry of Interior.
In statements to journalists, the Minister of Interior welcomed the Regional Director, who was accompanied by the Head of the Agency's Office in Cyprus, Ms Natasa Xenophontos Koudouna, saying that this is a very important organisation, which cooperates fully with the Ministry of Interior on migration issues, particularly on issues of returns, social integration and various programmes.
"We have discussed a number of issues of mutual interest," he noted and said that Mr Henriksen "was informed about the many problems that the country is facing."
"At the same time we have also informed him about the management that Cyprus has done on the issue of Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Cyprus," the minister added.
He noted that "we have given our positions on the new single migration and asylum policy, which we expect to be pushed further for implementation."
"We have raised the needs of our country and particularly on the issue of the effort we are making to limit the numbers of migrants, those coming from Turkey and the Green Line," he said.
He added that issues that fall under the 'territory' of the Agency, under whose umbrella various programmes are run, were also discussed and referred to the "very big effort we are making on the issues of returns so that we can achieve our target this year, which as I have said many times, with the support of the European Union and the various agencies, whether it is IOM, whether it is FRONTEX, whether it is the hitherto EASO and all the related agencies, we are trying - and we thank them very much - to improve the numbers of returns to various countries".
He then thanked Mr. Henrikson for his understanding and cooperation, as well as the Agency's representative in Cyprus, Ms Natasha Koudouna, describing the cooperation between them in the various programmes as excellent.
He said that within the financial possibilities, "we have indicated our readiness to extend our cooperation between us to help Cyprus in addressing this problem".
He thanked the Minister "for the understanding, but more importantly for the assistance provided by the IOM."
For his part, Mr Ola Henrikson said he was pleased to be visiting Cyprus, noting that it was his first time. He described the discussion with the Minister of Interior as constructive, noting that there is a good cooperation with the Cypriot Government regarding the return and reintegration of third country nationals to their countries of origin, areas he said there is a great need for the Cypriot Government. He added that the Agency is also working in the area of reception, particularly for unaccompanied minors.
"I have conveyed the message from IOM to the Cyprus Government that we are ready to strengthen and increase our cooperation where there is a need," the Regional Director said.
"We are aware of the challenges facing Cyprus," Mr Henrikson said, adding that there is a high number of arrivals in relation to the total population, which has been discussed during his meeting with the Minister.
He also mentioned that the impact of the situation in Ukraine, which also affects Cyprus, was also discussed.
In response to a question addressed to the Regional Director on what the plan is to control the flows from the occupied part of Cyprus, Mr. Henrikson clarified that the role of the United Nations International Organization for Migration (UNIOM) is to work by helping governments to make migration safe, smooth and orderly. He noted that this issue is not the purpose of his current visit, explaining that the aim of his visit is to assist the Cyprus Government in managing migration. He added that there are other UN agencies that are also involved in the migration issues that Cyprus is facing.
Asked by a journalist what the financial support that the Interior Minister mentioned earlier in his statements will include, Mr. Nouris replied that there will be cooperation based on the needs of Cyprus and that his expectation is that there will be cooperation on returns.
For his part, the Regional Director clarified that IOM is an organisation whose operation is based on programme implementation, and most of the projects it implements in Cyprus and in other EU Member States are usually financed or co-financed by EU funds, such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Internal Security Fund (ISF) and others.
He added that it is the needs of the Republic that will lead him to implement projects for which the Agency will apply for funding.
(EFF)
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