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Honorary Ambassador,
distinguished guests, dear colleagues,
It is with great pleasure that
I am here today, at the Reception Centre for Applicants for International
Protection ‘Limnes’, where we experience the true meaning of solidarity which
goes beyond words and is put into practice.
One year ago, when we started
discussing the European Pact on Migration and Asylum and the need for true
and mandatory solidarity towards the front-line Member States, Poland,
through its Ambassador and dear friend, Ms Irena Lichnerowicz Augustyn, came
forward and put in practice the theory behind the script. For us, this is the
true meaning of solidarity in an extremely challenging period, with the irregular
migration flows continuing at the same pace, stretching to its limits the
already overburdened asylum and reception system in Cyprus.
As you know, over the past 4
years, Cyprus has been the Member State with the highest number of first-time
applications for international protection in relation to its population size.
Moreover, the proportion of applicants and beneficiaries of international
protection in Cyprus corresponds to 4% of the country’s population.
Unfortunately, during the first
months of 2021, the increasing irregular arrivals especially of Syrian
nationals, either by sea or by land through the Green Line, indicate an
alarming trend. The continuation of the large numbers of migration flows from
Turkey is the main challenge for Cyprus. More than 70% of applicants for
international protection in Cyprus come directly from Turkey, or through the
areas which are not under the effective control of the government of the
Republic of Cyprus.
This is why persistently we are
asking the EU to develop and implement a legally robust operation dedicated
to the prevention of irregular migratory flows from Turkey before they reach
Cyprus equivalently to the arrangement for Greece in the EU – Turkey
Statement of 2016.
Despite the enormous efforts
taken by the Cypriot authorities in order to manage the disproportionate
migratory pressures, we are still in an extremely difficult situation mainly
because of the particularities that we face, such as the division of the
island by a 180-kilometre-long ceasefire line, that creates unique conditions
for the development of irregular migration.
In the framework of the
measures adopted by the Government to efficiently manage these flows, we
decided to establish this new centre in the area of ‘Limnes’, for those
applicants whose application for asylum is examined under the accelerated
process and consequently enter the return procedure. For this purpose and for
the effective implementation of returns, a pre-departure centre for those
applicants whose asylum claim is rejected, will soon be established next to
the Reception Centre.
The effective implementation of
returns is of particular importance for Cyprus and this is the reason why we
insist that the European Commission should proceed with centrally oriented
agreements with third countries. It has also been our firm position, that
member states should demonstrate solidarity to the front-line member states
who are the border-guards of the EU.
This is why I wish to express
once more my gratitude to the Polish Government and the Polish Embassy here
in Cyprus, for donating 80 housing units for the needs of our new Reception
Centre and hence putting solidarity into practice. Concluding, I envisage the
strengthening of the existing bonds of friendship and cooperation between our
countries so that we will reach tangible results in our common areas of
concern in the near future.
Thank you very much.
(ΕF/EK/SCH)
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