An end to the free passage of roadblocks for foreigners from third countries, in a move to control the situation and close the black hole to reduce migratory flows from these countries.
Interior Minister Konstantinos Petridis will present to tomorrow's Council of Ministers a proposal amending the code of application of the Green Line Regulation, in order to ban the entry into the free zones of persons coming from third countries to Cyprus from illegal ports or airports. As Mr. Petridis stated in "F", every month they come to the free zones through the occupied hundreds if not thousands of people from third countries and because they obtain a Schengen visa they pass without control. This, he continued, is a new route for immigrants who take advantage of the green line practice, which did not exist before.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that in 2004, when the Green Line Regulation was adopted, there were no such migratory flows that exist today from countries in Africa and Asia. Many of these countries now come to the occupied territories through Turkey and, either by obtaining a Schengen visa or in other ways, pass as migrants in the areas controlled by the Republic. In fact, these people pass through the roadblocks without control, while for example the Turkish Cypriots are controlled. The problem has grown over the last four years, with a large influx of third-country nationals.
It is noted that according to the regulation, the Republic is entitled if it finds within 90 days to force these people to return to their country in case it seems that they are here illegally, but it is impossible to do so, since no one knows where they end up and what are they doing.
To address the situation, the Ministry of Interior has drafted a proposal for reasons of public order, prevention of terrorism and control of illegal immigration, to change the code of application of the green line, in order to make better controls at roadblocks or to close for those who come illegally.
The issue of the arrival of immigrants from third countries was also discussed at the recent Extraordinary Council of Ministers where it was reported that the situation is out of control, so it gave the green light to the Minister of Interior to prepare a proposal for policy diversification at roadblocks. A change of attitude will not affect nationals of the United States, Canada, Russia and the United Kingdom when they leave the EU.
Source: philenews