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Turkey must undertake its responsibilities on the issue of illegal immigration to Cyprus, Interior Minister Neoclis Silikiotis has said, adding that during the EU Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers in Brussels he presented evidence confirming that 40% of illegal immigrants who arrive in the southern government controlled part of the Republic come Turkey, through illegal ports of entry.
In statements at Larnaca airport returning from Brussels after attending the Council, Sylikiotis said the ministers discussed issues concerning migration and asylum, the June Council conclusions and ways to implement them.
He added that one of the issues discussed was forging re-entry agreements between the EU and countries, such as Libya and Turkey, which are transit points to the EU for economic and illegal immigrants. Already, Vice President of the European Commission, Jacque Barrot and Sweden’s Minister for Migration and Asylum Policy Tobias Billstrom are scheduling a visit to Ankara towards the end of the year to discuss this issue.
Silikiotis said that during the Council, he underlined that Turkey must face its responsibilities, noting that he presented evidence before the ministers that 40% of the illegal immigrants who come from the Turkish occupied north of Cyprus possess papers which show that they come from Turkey. “For this reason, we believe that the re-entry issue should be speeded up”, he added.
Turkey, whose troops occupy the island’s northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and has yet to meet its EU obligations towards the 27 member states, including Cyprus.
The second issue which was examined by the ministers in Brussels was that of resettlement of refugees from neighbouring EU countries. “We said that Cyprus favours resettlement programmes but at the same time we want them to examine programmes for the resettlement of political refugees from EU state to state”.
He said that Malta, Greece and Italy have a significant flow of immigrants, noting that as a sign of solidarity and balance this flow should be distributed to other member states too.
Silikiotis said they also examined progress regarding the implementation of the conclusions regarding the creation of a European office to support asylum issues, adding that “we want the headquarters of the office in Cyprus”.
He said he discussed this issue with his Portuguese and his German counterparts, adding that in the next days he will send an official document which outlines the reasons why Cyprus favours the creation of the office on the island.
The deadline for submission of candidacies is 20th October.
