For Nicosia, but also for Brussels, Lebanon's responsibilities regarding the problem arising from the unprecedented flow of irregular immigrants to Cyprus are clear.
The President Christodoulidistogether with a high-level delegation goes to Beirut today carrying specific messages, in consultation with the European Commission. Messages that have to do with the benefits that Lebanon will have if it takes its own responsibilities to intercept boats with illegal immigrants, but also the consequences of continuing the current situation.
Indicator of importance who has today's trip to Beirut is the mission that will accompany the President of the Republic. He will be accompanied by the foreign and interior ministers, the head of the National Guard and the commander of the Central Intelligence Agency. A mission that we rarely see from the Cypriot side in terms of trips to countries in the region.It is also a mission aimed at demonstrating to the Lebanese side both the magnitude of the problem and the responsibilities that lie with the neighboring country itself, which seems to be taking absolutely no measures to prevent the illegal trafficking of migrants.
According to an official announcementPresident Christodoulidis and the Cypriot delegation during his stay in Beirut will meet and hold talks with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Dajim Mikati. The announcement states that the topic of discussion will be the increased flows of irregular migrants, mainly Syrians from Lebanon to Cyprus. The President of the Republic will also have a meeting with the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri. The foreign and interior ministers, as well as the head of the National Guard will also have separate meetings with their Lebanese counterparts.
The fact that the majority of people illegally transported from Lebanon to Cyprus are Syrians creates an additional problem for the Cypriot side as it cannot repatriate them as they come from a war zone. However, Lebanon has a responsibility to keep the refugees from Syria on its territory receiving similar support from the European Union. However, the numbers and what has been recorded in recent weeks show that Lebanon is far from meeting its obligations.
President Christodoulidis had a meeting yesterday, in Athens, with the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting, as reported by PtD circles, was held in an excellent atmosphere. According to information from government sources, the meeting of President Christodoulidis with the president of the European Commission focused on the ways in which the EU can strengthen, in a concrete way, the Republic of Cyprus to prevent migration flows to its territory. At the same time, the messages that President Christodoulidis is expected to convey to Lebanon today on behalf of the EU were discussed. The President of the Commission appeared at the meeting with the PtD fully aware of the situation that prevails with the trafficking of irregular immigrants to Cyprus. Ursula von der Leyen was positive about what Nikos Christodoulidis will propose to the Lebanese government today. Messages which seem to have the full support of the Commission, something that will be highlighted in the Beirut talks.
The situation as it develops in immigration and in particular the flows from Lebanon to Cyprus will also concern the informal European Council that will take place on April 18-19. This leaves about ten days for Lebanon to act accordingly, and proceed to take measures to prevent the illegal trafficking of migrants from its shores to Cyprus. In light of the developments until then, it is expected that the reaction of the European Union itself will be similar.
It is noted that on Saturday the Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, underlined that “since last summer we expressed public statements and with letters to the EU that Lebanon should be supported financially, precisely for the fact that there are more than two million Syrian refugees in its territories”.Unfortunately, the Minister continued, after the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas last October, the situation in Lebanon has worsened due to the economic problems and political instability in the country. This, he pointed out, caused “a very large increase in the number of flows due also to the events in Gaza”.
Meeting with Mitsotakis
The the immigration issue, the Cyprus problem and issues of bilateral cooperation, were at the center of the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Christodoulides, in Athens, with the Greek side also emphasizing its support for the Cypriot “Amalthia” initiative for a humanitarian corridor in Gaza.
More specifically, Mr. Mitsotakis met, at the Maximos Palace, with the President of of Democracy, who was in Athens to participate in the 15th Congress of New Democracy.
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the continuation of the cooperation and coordination of Greece – Cyprus in view of the next discussions.
Furthermore, the focus of the meeting was also the issue of new migration flows in Cyprus, which “cause great concern for a new migration path due to the ongoing instability and violence in the Middle East”. , as reported by the Press Office of the Greek Prime Minister.
Finally, the Greek Prime Minister reiterated Greece's firm support for the Cypriot “Amalthia” initiative for the humanitarian corridor in Gaza.
