Too many lies have been told about the benefits immigrants and refugees receive – the truth will have to be restored
Statement by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 12th June 2020, Nicosia
We have exchanged views with the Minister of the Interior Mr. Nouris on this issue. I have requested to visit the Pournaras refugee camp on June 23 and the Minister has agreed to be with me on this visit.
What I would like to say by taking a general approach but also to focus on the issue of Pournaras is that we need to understand that the refugee issue has to do with human lives. We are talking about people. It is not enough to shed hypocritical tears when human lives are being lost in the Mediterranean see or anywhere else, but when it comes to our own home a completely different approach is adopted on the issue. I’m not saying this for Mr. Nouris, I want to make this clear. I’m speaking in general.
So I think we need to have a human approach to this issue as well. Too many lies have been told about the benefits that immigrants, refugees, have. I believe that one day the truth will have to be restored.
As far as this camp is concerned, it is a reception area. The law says people have to stay here for 3 days. The Minister has explained to us the practical issues that exist to implement this relevant provision of the legislation. The problem must be solved. This is one aspect of the issue.
Second, we believe that there is an overspill. The Minister has given us his own answers to these questions. There was a lack of elementary necessities. It is a fact that there have been several improvement measures in this direction recently, but more needs to be done.
We have also asked the Minister to provide us with information on the financial assistance we have received from the international community in recent years, from 2014 to 2018. Our knowledge is that we have received 100 million Euros as help for immigrants. We would like to know how this money has been used. The Minister has pledged to look at these issues and we will continue the discussion between us.
As I said, we are going to visit Pournaras together on June 23 and we will have the opportunity to continue our discussion on the spot.
