21/06/2018 12:37
Interior Minister Constantinos Petrides assured Wednesday of Cyprus’ continued support towards refugees.
Speaking on the occasion of World Refugee Day, in Nicosia, the Minister cited the latest Eurostat data, showing that Cyprus is the country receiving most asylum applications per capita. During the first five months of 2018, applications increased by 40%, according to Petrides.
The Minister also noted that no country is able to tackle the migrant crisis on its own during the last couple of years, particularly a country the size of Cyprus.
He added that during the next European Council, on June 28-29, heads of state and government will try to reach a comprehensive agreement, aiming at a fair and balanced Common Asylum System.
According to the Minister, Nicosia’s position is that the new framework needs to be able to support “front line” countries that bear a disproportionate burden as regards migration. A redistribution method of these people throughout the EU needs to be included as well, taking into account the size and population of member states, Petrides added.
Despite having to live with the consequences of the 1974 Turkish invasion, that led to a large portion of the Cypriot people to become refugees, as well as with the aftermath of the economic crisis, Cyprus will continue to support refugees, said the Minister of the Interior.
According to data cited by Petrides, asylum applications in Cyprus increase by 56% in 2017 and by 40% during the first five months of 2018. He added that asylum seekers arrive in Cyprus either by boat or through the occupied part of the island. A rescue plan for asylum seekers reaching the shores of Cyprus, dubbed “Naucratis”, was activated 15 times in 2017 and 4 times this year, according to the Minister.
Petrides said finally that in the last few years, Cyprus granted the status of international protection to 8,000 people, the majority of which come from Syria. Another 2,000 applications are pending, the Minister concluded.