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Emphasis on the substitution of illegal migration with legal channels was given at the bilateral meetings held by Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou in Geneva. Ioannou met with the Nigerian Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Eradication Dr. Betta Chimaobim Edu and the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Migration Mr. Abdallah Bou Habib.
During the meetings, they exchanged views on the proposal being promoted to establish a process, with the contribution of the International Organization for Migration, for sourcing labour from third countries, with a view to establishing legal migration routes and curbing illegal flows of migrants. The Cypriot Minister pointed out that, based on the actual needs of each country, legal migration is expected to create conditions for better absorption of third country nationals into national labour markets, thus enhancing actions for the smooth integration of migrants into the economy and society.
In addition, Mr. Ioannou had the opportunity to present in detail to the Nigerian Minister the aspects of the information campaign conducted in recent months in Sub-Saharan African countries and aimed at informing potential migrants about the realities of the situation in Cyprus. According to the Home Affairs Minister, the campaign combined with a number of other measures taken have resulted in a 75% reduction in African arrivals compared to 2022
In this context, Dr Edu briefed Mr Ioannou on the new population containment programme currently underway in Nigeria. Through this activity, the Nigerian Government is making the citizens of the country, particularly the youth, aware of the prospects that are opening up in Nigeria for employment in the country itself. The two Ministers agreed that the materials used for the information campaign should be made available to the Nigerian Government so that they can be used by the Nigerian authorities as part of their national information programme for population retention.
Cyprus-Lebanon engagement on regime reassessment in Syria
Finally, the Minister of Interior met with the Lebanese Minister of Interior and Migration, with whom he reviewed developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Taking into account that in recent months there has been an increase in arrivals by sea and given the significant number of vessels sailing off the Lebanese coast, Mr Ioannou stressed the urgent need for the Lebanese authorities to step up controls.
The Cypriot Minister reiterated the position, which is also expressed in the EU institutions, for support to Lebanon, recognizing the problems the country faces due to its proximity to Syria, and the pressures it faces from massive Syrian flows into its territories. Mr Bou Habib expressed his country's thanks to the Republic of Cyprus for its initiative to promote at European level the logistical and financial support to Lebanon. Ioannou and Bou Habib agreed that the EU's attitude towards the Syrian regime
should be immediately reconsidered, taking into account the latest contacts and commitments made by the regime to the UNHCR in relation to the implementation of the necessary steps to restore security on Syrian territory for the repatriation of its citizens. They noted the need to promote investment in Syria, which will create prospects for rebuilding the country and, by extension, prospects for development that will help contain the population.
Mr. Ioannou returns to Cyprus today.
(MKE)
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