Cyprus’ decision not to accept the stranded individuals in the buffer zone is being dictated by the need to ensure that the Green Line will not become a pathway for migrants, Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection says in a written statement, invited, by the Cyprus News Agency, to comment on a Guardian article titled ”Asylum seekers stuck in limbo as Cyprus rebuffs calls to act”.
‘Cyprus has been heavily affected by migrant flows over the last few years and we need to be firm in addressing the matter,’ the Deputy Ministry said.
In the written statement the Deputy Ministry noted that the Republic of Cyprus is not ‘divided’, as the article mentions, but a significant part of its territory (37%) has been unlawfully occupied by Turkey since 1974, following the illegal military invasion of Cyprus.
The written statement said that the Government of Cyprus provides assistance to the individuals stranded in the buffer zone on a daily basis. Cyprus also provides medicine upon request, while an am
bulance is on standby at all times. ‘We definitely do not overlook the humanitarian aspect of the matter,’ the statement continued.
The Deputy Ministry underlined that human rights obligations should not be examined in isolation and that according to international law (‘principle of systemic integration’), rules must be interpreted and applied taking into consideration other relevant rules of international law.
‘For instance, the Green Line Regulation envisages obligation for the Republic of Cyprus in terms of preventing illegal migration through the Green Line. Moreover, according to the rules of international law, Turkey, the occupying power, is under the obligation to fulfil its human rights duties in the occupied areas as well,’ the Deputy Ministry said.
It noted that given that these people travelled through Turkey to the occupied areas, it is Turkey’s responsibility to provide them access to asylum procedures.
‘The Republic should not bear the burden of Turkey’s omissions and violations of internati
onal law. In any case, we have embarked upon a diplomatic effort to resolve the matter. Our goal is to uphold our principled position on flows through the Green Line and at the same time to end those individuals’ predicament,’ the Deputy Ministry added.
Since mid-May a total of 37 individuals have been stranded in the buffer zone in Nicosia district. Twenty-five (25) are staying in Aglantzia and twelve (12) are staying in Akaki. There are also six people who have disappeared, according to a statement by the UNHCR in Cyprus. There are 8 children in total, 4 in Aglantzia and 4 in Akaki.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
