Filenews 9 December 2024
Syrian asylum seekers apply for voluntary return in a letter to the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection.
In the letter signed by the Group "Syrians in Cyprus", it is stated that "today dawns a new hopeful day in Syria. After 13 years of war, the regime of dictator Bashar al-Assad has come to an end."
In the Republic of Cyprus, it is added, "we found a well-governed State that offered us protection, all these years that we have been away from our towns and villages, our families, relatives and friends. As a society that has lived through the horrors of war, refugees and uprooting, we are convinced that the whole of Cypriot society can feel what it means to desire to return to their homeland."
"Therefore, although Syria cannot yet be considered safe, the political situation in Syria is still unstable and conditions uncertain, some members of our Association have already expressed, from the very first day of the new page in the history of Syria, their desire for voluntary return to Syria, and consequently the closure of their files/applications for International Protection," he said. Continue.
In this letter, they call on the Government to:
1. take the necessary measures for the orderly, safe and dignified return of those who opt for voluntary return to Syria; and
2. extends the assisted voluntary return (AVR) programme to cover Syrian nationals.
At the same time, they note that a concerted effort is being made on behalf of the Group to collect the data of those who wish to return in the near future, and a delegation of the Association is available to arrange a meeting for further discussion of this issue.
"We reiterate our gratitude to the Republic of Cyprus and hope that our call will find a positive response in order to safeguard the interests of our members and the whole of Cyprus," the letter concludes.
