The Interior Minister is engaging in fear-mongering statements and xenophobia, but avoids giving answers
AKEL on the refugee issue
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 28th May 2020, Nicosia
The management of the refugee issue cannot be addressed with the Interior Minster’s authoritarian views and rhetoric, who evidently expresses the whole of the government and ruling DISY party. Mr. Nouris is engaging in fear-mongering statements and xenophobia on TV channels, whilst at the same time he avoids giving answers and taking substantial actions on this issue.
– What results has he yielded with regards the swift examination of asylum applications, in line of course with the guidelines of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees? As the Interior Minister himself stated in Parliament, for the past 3 months the relevant service has stopped accepting and examining applications, a fact that is further exacerbating the current situation.
– Why hasn’t he still replied to the questions AKEL had posed about the situation in Pournaras and whether the director of the Medical Services has been informed about the ministerial decisions? What cooperation and communication is there between the Ministry of Interior and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees?
– Why have hundreds of people been imprisoned for months now in the Pournaras area, in which a Temporary Reception Centre has been planned where asylum seekers have to stay for three days far exceeding all capacity? Is it disrespectful to the laws of our country, for the people trapped there to be demanding humane living conditions, soap for showers, enough water and food, to be asking not to sleep in tents in mud?
– Where have the 100 million euros of European funds for the migration issue that were channeled to Cyprus since 2014 gone?
– Does Mr. Nouris and his government understand that any policies on the issue of refugees and immigrants must be in line with international law, laws on asylum, our state’s European obligations and human rights?
Mr. Nouris and the government, instead of looking for ways to turn Cypriot society against refugees, should be working towards finding solutions based on solidarity and justice, to combat the local circles exploiting immigrant workers.
