It is the government’s firm position that the Green Line will not become a pathway for migrants from Turkey, through the occupied territories, to the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, Deputy Minister of Migration Nicolas Ioannides stressed.
Speaking to state radio, Ioannides noted that a dialogue is underway with the UN High Commission for Refugees to resolve the problem of the presence of migrants within the buffer zone, aiming to cross to the free areas.
He added that until the problem is resolved, the government is providing medical care to the migrants.
Commenting on the release of a video, in which a member of the Unficyp appears to be ferrying 44 migrants to the free areas through the buffer zone, Ioannides said that such tours do not contribute to solving the problem.
He noted, however, that it is not included in the terms of Unficyp ‘s mandate that it can direct migrants to areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus.
