Cyprus considers that Syria's status must be re-evaluated in order to be able to return and deport migrants to this country, Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Ioannou said on Friday after a meeting he had with a Democratic Party delegation under its President, Nicholas Papadopoulos, to brief them about the situation as regards the migration issue.
Ioannou also noted that he sent a letter to the European Commission Vice President, Margaritis Schninas, by which he stressed the need to support Lebanon, where it is estimated that there are currently 2.5 million Syrians, as he said. He pointed out that "if Lebanon collapses then the whole of Europe will have a problem."
Responding to questions by journalists, the Interior Minister said that Syria has had for 11 years now the same status. He noted that Cyprus considers, and other EU member states seem to share the same view, that Syria's status must be re-evaluated.
Ioannou said that there are two regions which are already marked as safe by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). "So this must be recognized at the EU level as well", so that when we can deport or return people back to Syria, he said, adding that this is something that "no country has managed to do so far."
The Minister said that they will try to put pressure as regards this issue. He added that he is planning to pay a trip to Geneva for a meeting with the UN High Commission for Refugees which has a role on this issue, to focus efforts on it.
Ioannou noted that the government has a specific plan to address the migration issue, adding that he is reservedly optimistic as they have managed to reduce arrival of irregular immigrants by 50%. Moreover he noted that they managed to increase by 50%, the returns, from 3200 to 4700, either voluntary or not.
He also noted that infrastructure is updated and that the number of officers examining asylum applications has doubled and the time for examining them has been reduced to three from nine months.
Ioannou said that the aim is to reduce the financial benefits that any asylum applicant may have so that Cyprus is not an attractive destination.
He recalled that due to the special status, they cannot reject Syrians' asylum applications or deport them and this is an issue that needs to be addressed.
Moreover he stressed the need for the parliament to vote the bill for the establishment of the Deputy Ministry for Migration.
Replying to a question, he said that Cyprus has improved its already good relation with Lebanon and the two countries exchange information regarding migration flows.
Asked about the action plan for the Eastern Mediterranean he said that some of its provisions are already being implemented unofficially and that according to Cyprus' Permanent Representation in Brussels it will be put forward for approval by that Council of Ministers at the end of October.
Source: Cyprus News Agency