President of Cyprus calls on EU to discover Syrian protected zones for refugees

• President Nikos Christodoulides of Cyprus mentioned it’s vital for the EU to designate sure elements of Syria as protected zones to allow the return of refugees.
• Cyprus is collaborating with like-minded EU members to ease the burden on Mediterranean international locations internet hosting numerous refugees.
• Regardless of a lower in general migrant arrivals to Cyprus final yr, there was a major improve in arrivals by boat from Syria and Lebanon.

The European Union will not serve its personal finest pursuits if it doesn’t think about designating some elements of Syria as protected zones so refugees and migrants can return there, the president of Cyprus mentioned Monday.

President Nikos Christodoulides mentioned Cyprus is working with like-minded EU member nations to start out a dialogue about that objective with a purpose to assist alleviate the stress that Mediterranean international locations receiving probably the most refugees and migrants are beneath.

“I don’t consider not discussing the situation inside Syria as an appropriate option for the European Union,” Christodoulides mentioned after talks with Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

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“The Cyprus Republic, in cooperation with other member states which share this approach, is working toward initiating a discussion within the European Union about the Syria situation,” he mentioned.

Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides, proper, and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier speak to the media throughout a press convention after their assembly on the presidential palace within the capital Nicosia, Cyprus, on Feb. 12, 2024.  (AP Picture/Petros Karadjias, Pool)

In his most candid remarks on migration so far, Christodoulides mentioned he acknowledges the “sensitivities” that some EU international locations have on the problem however that the bloc “must address” whether or not some elements of Syria are protected sufficient for migrants to return.

“There are areas in Syria in which we must examine whether they are safe and by extension, enable the return of migrants from those specific areas,” he mentioned.

Though 37% fewer migrants reached Cyprus final yr, official figures present migrant arrivals by boat from Syria and Lebanon elevated 355% – 4,259 in 2023 as in comparison with 937 in 2022.

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Christodoulides thanked Steinmeier, the primary German president to go to Cyprus, for his nation’s choice to voluntarily settle for 1,000 asylum-seekers from Cyprus. Steinmeier mentioned by means of a translator that Germany understands the burden that Cyprus is beneath from people-smuggling.

Cypriot Inside Minister Constantinos Ioannou mentioned earlier this month that the overwhelming majority of these arriving to Cyprus by sea are Syrians who’ve fallen prey to people-smuggling rings in Syria and Lebanon.

He mentioned an settlement was in place for the extra lively involvement of EU law enforcement company Europol in serving to to bust such smuggling rings, whereas Cypriot authorities have arrange a devoted unit to reinforce policing and patrols.

Ioannou mentioned asylum purposes in Cyprus dropped by 46% in 2023 whereas repatriations and voluntary departures elevated by 66%. Total, Cyprus recorded some 10,991 migrant arrivals final yr, some 6,447 fewer than in 2022.