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NICOSIA, Cyprus — Breakaway Turkish Cypriots on ethnically-divided Cyprus should do their share in stemming migrant arrivals, a senior European Union official mentioned Saturday, because the variety of asylum-seekers has shot up considerably to this point this yr.
European Fee Vice President Margharitis Schinas mentioned that Turkish Cypriot authorities must also be held accountable for curbing migrant arrivals.
“We gained’t let the Turkish Cypriot group to think about itself impartial in what’s going on,” Schinas mentioned after visiting upgraded amenities on the Pournara migrant reception camp outdoors the capital. “They have to additionally assume their share of duty and we’ll discover a solution to remind them.”
Cyprus was cut up alongside ethnic traces in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup geared toward union with Greece. Solely Turkey acknowledges a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. Cypriot authorities authorities say the overwhelming majority of migrant arrivals happens through Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot north by means of a loosely regulated scholar visa system.
1000’s then cross a porous U.N.-controlled buffer zone to hunt asylum within the Greek Cypriot south the place the internationally acknowledged authorities is seated. Though Turkish Cypriots obtain EU funding, solely the south enjoys full membership advantages.
Schinas mentioned EU Commissioner Elisa Ferreira will maintain contacts in Cyprus in July to discover methods of finest dealing with the problem. He additionally mentioned Turkey has demonstrated a willingness to assist ease the variety of migrants arriving in Cyprus.
The EU may even assist Cypriot authorities bolster monitoring and surveillance of the buffer zone to discourage crossings in a means that’s appropriate with EU legislation because the 180-kilometer-long (120-mile-long) space is not a proper border, Schinas mentioned.
Cyprus Inside Minister Nicos Nouris mentioned the variety of asylum-seekers doubled to 10,000 within the first 5 months of this yr in comparison with the identical interval in 2021, repeating that they make up an EU excessive of 5% of Cyprus’ 915,000-strong inhabitants within the south.
He mentioned that Cypriot authorities are working with the EU to facilitate the return of asylum-seekers whose claims have been rejected in addition to extra funding from the 27 member-nation bloc to the tune of 72 million euros to construct a brand new migrant reception heart.
Though overcrowding on the Pournara heart has been drastically alleviated in current months, a 27-year-old Nigerian, Miracle Chidiebera, mentioned there’s nonetheless loads of anger amongst migrants over what he mentioned is a continual lack of water, poor meals and congested amenities.
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Comply with AP’s protection of migration points at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
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