Cypriot and Syrian experts will meet soon to discuss practical measures to prevent illegal immigration to Cyprus.

Many illegal immigrants are filtered via Syria to Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas and subsequently to southern government-controlled areas of the Republic, Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou has said.

Kyprianou said that the issue of the illegal sea routes between Latakia and the occupied port of Famagusta, which are not continuous, is an issue that is always on the agenda of his contacts with Syrian government officials.

He added that the Syrian government stresses that there is no change in its position regarding the non-recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus. Damascus, the Minister said, recognises only the Republic of Cyprus and abides by the resolutions of the Security Council.

«But this sea route, apart from creating political problems, which we raise before the Syrian government, is a source of illegal immigration», he said.

The Syrian government, he noted, has expressed full readiness to cooperate with Nicosia.

“This is an issue we have discussed. There will be a meeting soon between experts. I understand that on the part of Cyprus it is the Cypriot police that will take part to discuss practical measures to prevent illegal immigration via or from Syria to the Turkish occupied areas and through them to the government-controlled part of the country,” he concluded.