The Green Line is not a border and we do not accept flows of migrants through it, said N. Ioannidis – The Deputy Minister was asked whether due to the situation in the Middle East if an increase in migration flows is expected and if the Republic is ready and has the infrastructure
The Green Line is not border and we don't want it to be a border, said today the Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannidis, adding that the policy of the Republic of Cyprus is not to accept flows of migrants through the Green Line and our goal is to prevent the Green Line from becoming a passage for migrants. /p>
In statements after visiting the KYFADP Kofinou and the “Limnes” Hospitality Center and being asked about the situation that prevails in the dead zone with immigrantswho are there, Nikolas Ioannidis replied that “we must make it clear that we do not want to be in conflict with either the Peacekeeping Force or the UNHCR, that is why we are in dialogue with them for solving this problem”.
He explained that “it is not only the people who are currently in the dead zone, it is the wider approach of flows from Turkey, through occupied in the free areas”.
“The Republic of Cyprus made the decision that it will not accept flows through the Green Line, at a time when we have managed to have zero flows by sea, we do not want to create a new passage,” he said.
Our strategy, our policy, he continued, “is about achieving the goal of not having flows through the Green Line and that is why we are in dialogue with UNHCR and to solve the problem of the people who are already there but also to regulate the situation in general, so that the Green Line does not become a passageway for immigrants”. given that there are several points through which immigrants can pass, or if a solution will eventually be found, Mr. Ioannidis said that “it is not a passage, precisely because the authorities of the Republic do not allow the passage of these individuals.” “We have the Green Line regulationwhich allows us to effectively monitor the Green Line in relation to illegal immigration,” he added.
He reiterated that “right now, we are in dialogue to see how the problem of these people can be resolved. We do not ignore the humanitarian aspect, that is why we provide help, whatever these people need. However, on the other hand we have to balance between our policy, our position that we will not allow the crossing of migrants and on the other hand keeping in mind the humanitarian factor,” he said.
Asked whether the Republic has requested or will request the help of the European Union in this particular matter, the Deputy Minister of Immigration replied that “at the moment the EU does not have any involvement and it does not need to. The important thing is that there is no intervention from the EU side, i.e. pressure has been exerted on the Republic of Cyprus, because they understand the situation”.
He also added that “the Green Line is not a border, we never want it to become a border, it is a special case, we have a military occupation and we should take into account this fact, that is, it is not a border”.
“It's not what happens in other European states where immigrants come through the borders with other countries, we have military occupation, we have other rules and we have to take them into account to deal with the situation,” he noted.
Referring to < strong>visit to the Hospitality Center in Kofinouhe said that “I wanted to personally ascertain the situation prevailing at the Hospitality Center in Kofinou but also to see the progress of the works in the “Lakes”.
He added that in Kofinou “there are decent living conditions for those residing there, these are asylum seekers who are awaiting the examination of their applications and remain until the examination of their asylum applications. The conditions are very good, there is air conditioning and food, the children go to school and this is very important, we are interested in the well-being of these people”.
Regarding his visit to the “Limnes” Hospitality Center, he said that a huge project is under construction, it is a Center with a thousand beds, which can accommodate a thousand people and a pre-departure center with 800 places”.
He explained that “Hospitality Centers are not permanent residencesfor these people, they are Centers that are created so that asylum seekers, from the moment they submit their application and are entitled to remain in the Republic until their application is examined.”
“We cannot deport them people, so that they are not vagrants in the cities and ghettos are created, will stay in these Reception Centers so that we are able to have a clear picture of the number of applicants and in this way we can speed up the examination procedures of applications”, he added.
He also characterized the pre-departure Center as “very important, which will be able to accommodate up to 800 people for the purpose of their repatriation. This Center is not about permanent residence either, but a place where all people who are illegally in the Republic of Cyprus will be detained with the intention of being deported”.
As Mr. Ioannidis said “the effort made by the The Republic of Cyprus to meet its international obligations but at the same time to preserve legitimacy”. “Already this year we have more returns of foreigners than flows,” he said and noted that “these efforts, the creation of infrastructure contribute to this effort to emphasize only those foreigners who are entitled to remain in the Republic after the application has been examined their. If their application is considered and rejected then they will have to be repatriated”.
We consider, he continued, “these projects are very important and we hope that they will soon be completed so that the Republic of Cyprus can implement its immigration policy ».
The Deputy Minister was asked whether, due to the situation prevailing in the Middle East region, an increase in immigration flows is expected and if the Republic is ready and has the infrastructure to welcome these people.
The Republic of Cyprus replied “it has taken advantage of the experience it has unfortunately acquired, due to the crises in our region, there are National Plans and there is also the National Plan “Navkratis” which concerns the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and International Protection”.
He also mentioned that “there is a plan, our executives are experienced, they have knowledge of the practices that must be followed, we hope that the situation does not escalate, that we do not have what many people expect, but if any conflict occurs and if there are migratory flows, then we will put into operation the national planning, so that we can deal with the situation”.
