Filenes 16 April 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
A Surveillance Unit of the Anti-Faction Line is soon being set up, so that together with the electronic monitoring system and the barbed wire that is placed at various points, irregular migration can be effectively targeted. Last Wednesday, the Council of Ministers gave the green light for the creation of the Unit, approving a proposal presented by Interior Minister Nikos Nouris. The cost of setting up the Unit will be covered by European funds and is expected to be ready in August when the electronic monitoring system of the Green Line will be received by Israel.
Information from "F" indicates that the Unit will consist of 300 special police officers who will be recruited through express procedures, will be trained immediately and will take on a role along the entire Green Line. They will set up four shifts and will have guarding duties to stem the onshore migratory flows through the occupied territories. A relevant bill for the approval of the 300 posts will soon go to the House, so that the procedures for their recruitment can be announced and initiated. The members of the Unit will have specific duties, which will concern not only the surveillance of the Anti-Faction Line but also the guarding of the accommodation and reception centres for migrants.
According to our information, the Minister of Interior Nikos Nouris during his recent visits to European countries presented the proposal to the European Commission and there is consent in principle to finance the new Green Line Monitoring Unit in line with what happened in Lithuania and other European countries facing the same problem.
Meanwhile, because the numbers of asylum applications this year that have skyrocketed beyond 5,000, the flows through the occupied territories are unstoppable and the problem is burdened with refugees from Ukraine, the President of the Republic convened a meeting on Holy Tuesday to study the situation.
It is noted that today, 90% of the migratory flows to the free areas come from the occupied areas. According to data maintained by the authorities, on average more than 100 people per day pass through the occupied areas to the free areas, which is a headache for both the Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Justice. The competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus, trying to stop irregular crossings, placed a fence at points of the Green Line in western Nicosia. Also, the installation of an electronic surveillance system of the Green Line, with a total cost of approximately €27.5 million, which will be installed in the summer, is underway.
