Cyprus Interior Minister says number of asylum seekers has dropped

Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis said on Sunday that the number of political asylum applicants has dropped and measures were needed to avert a new wave of illegal immigrants.

In statements on the sidelines of the 12th Rainbow Festival, organised in Limassol by the Movement for Equality, Support and Anti-racism (KISA) in cooperation with immigrant communities, Sylikiotis said that ''the pressure we exerted on the EU brought about results so that a dialogue with Turkey could begin concerning readmission.''

He also expressed hope that ''the European support office would set up headquarters in the Mediterranean, and this is a decision that will be taken in December at the European Council.''