Theodorou: ‘Illegal immigration in northern Europe is a fairytale’

JUSTICE Minister Doros Theodorou yesterday suggested that illegal immigration was a Mediterranean phenomenon and urged the European Union to face it as such.

Speaking after a visit at the immigration service, Theodorou said illegal immigration flourished in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, France and Spain.

“It is a fairytale that there is illegal immigration in the north EU member-states.
He said when he visited Latvia he was told that the country only had five illegal immigrants compared to Cyprus’ 10,000.

The number is so high that there was not enough space to hold all the illegal immigrants arrested.
In many cases the police had to cancel sweep operations due to lack of space, the minister said.
Theodorou said most illegal immigrants in Cyprus came from the occupied north.

And the government’s complaints to various EU bodies have bore fruit, as there was a steep decrease in the numbers of immigrants from the north.

“I am sure, despite it not being announced, that Turkey possibly stopped issuing visas to nationals of other Muslim countries, which they could use to visit the occupied north and then cross the buffer zone and apply for asylum,” the minister said.

Theodorou said Turkey refused to take back the Turkish nationals arrested in the government-controlled areas and due to that, airline companies refused to transport them.

But Turkey was an EU candidate and should comply and accept its nationals, the minister said.
He said he was confident that Turkey would soon accept the return of its nationals, who were arrested as illegal immigrants.

Concerning the foreign artistes, Theodorou said there has been some progress in stemming their numbers by refusing to issue any new cabaret licenses.

The support measures for artistes resulted in them trusting the authorities more and testifying against those who exploit them, the minister said.

Cases before the special branch dealing with sexual exploitation have increased from 13 in 2003 to 91 in 2004.

“These are the products of a systematic work, which has already started bearing fruit,” the minister said.

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