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Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou met today, at the Ministry of Interior, with the Speaker of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), Ms Elżbieta Witek, who is on a three-day official visit to Cyprus.
During the meeting, the Minister, after welcoming the Speaker of the Polish Lower House of Parliament to Cyprus, referred to the history linking the two peoples, on the basis of which there is a willingness to offer and solidarity to refugees. Referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he said that Cyprus stands united with the whole of Europe to support Ukrainian refugees. Moreover, he noted that efforts were being made to provide the best possible accommodation for Ukrainian refugees.
Cyprus, the Minister continued, in 1974 had a third of its population as refugees, so he understood and sympathised with the situation that the Ukrainian people are now facing. This, he added, is the major problem linked to the increased migration flows, noting that a large number of irregular migrants, around 95 per cent, come mainly from the Green Line. Due to the fact that the Green Line is not an external border, Mr Ioannou added, it is very difficult to take effective measures to prevent the flows.
Referring to the instrumentalization of migration by Turkey, he explained that irregular migrants come mainly from sub-Saharan African countries, who use the route from Istanbul airport to the occupied areas, then cross the Green Line to the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. It is for this reason, he noted, that Cyprus is investing in the diplomatic route, in the direction of Turkey, within the framework of the Eastern Mediterranean Action Plan, which was agreed by the European Council, and is now in the process of consultation for its elaboration.
To underline the magnitude of the migration challenges, the Minister informed that the number of asylum applications has increased fivefold in the last six years, while 6% of the population of Cyprus are asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. These disproportionate numbers in relation to the population of Cyprus, he added, make it difficult to integrate those in real need of support and protection.
The Minister concluded by expressing the need for real solidarity and a fair distribution of responsibilities and burdens among the countries of the European Union, which can be achieved on the basis of the Common European Asylum System.
The President of the Lower House of the Polish Parliament, for her part, expressed her pleasure to be in Cyprus, as well as the opportunity to visit a kindergarten hosting children from Ukraine, stressing that her country stands in solidarity with its refugees. "Our position," she said, "is to show solidarity with the refugees."
After informing about the measures taken by Poland in terms of guarding its external borders, she noted that she visited the Green Line during her official visit, fully aware of the problem facing Cyprus.
She noted that she recognised that 6% is a high percentage of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection so that integration into the host society can be achieved.
The Polish President also said that irregular migration is an issue of international concern, noting that the surveillance of the EU's external borders is an important aspect of deterring the phenomenon and that Europe cannot have open borders.
Finally, Ms Elżbieta Witek expressed the view that the EU should focus on the countries of origin of migrants with information campaigns, but also education, projects and infrastructure, in order to prevent irregular flows, which was also agreed by the Minister of Interior.
(EFYs/MB/SX)
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