‘All our borders need monitoring’

CYPRUS is making efforts within the EU for the launching of joint European operation to patrol the waters off the island’s northern coast in a bid to curb illegal immigration trafficking and asylum seekers, Justice Minister Doros Theodorou said yesterday.

In a interview with the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) to mark 12 months of EU membership, Theodorou said that since accession Cyprus has become a “hot destination” for asylum seekers.

“It is more than obvious that the accession to the EU has created an additional reason for asylum seekers to come to Cyprus,” he said.

Theodorou criticised Turkey for allowing potential illegal immigrants to freely enter the north, from where many cross to the south and seek asylum.

“The continuing occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkey consists a vacuum in the control of the Republic’s territory and a hole in EU’s external borders,” Theodorou said citing the recent arrest of members of a people trafficking network in the north.

“Since we do not believe that Turkey will abide by its obligations, we proposed the launching of joint European operations to patrol the sea area between Cyprus and Turkey where networks are reportedly operating,” he said.

”We will insist that these operations should be carried out in the sea area between Cyprus and Turkey. There is positive response from EU member-states which note that Turkey should also participate in such operations.”