Emphasis on the substitution of illegal immigration by legal channels was given in the bilateral meetings held by the Minister of the Interior Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou in Geneva. Mr. Ioannou met with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Nigeria, Dr. Betta Chimaobim Edu, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of Lebanon, Mr. Abdallah Bou Habib.
During the meetings, they exchanged views on the proposal being promoted to institutionalize a process, with the contribution of the International Organization for Migration, to find labor force from third countries with the aim of creating legal migration routes and limiting illegal migrant flows. The Cypriot Minister pointed out that, based on the real needs of each country, legal immigration is expected to create conditions for a better absorption of third-country nationals in the national labor markets, thus strengthening actions for the smooth integration of immigrants into the economy and society.
In addition, Mr. Ioannou had the opportunity to present extensively to the Nigerian Minister the aspects of the information campaign that has been carried out in recent months in Sub-Saharan African countries and aims to inform potential immigrants about the real facts that prevail in Cyprus. According to the Minister of the Interior, the campaign combined with a series of other measures taken, resulted in the reduction of African arrivals by 75% compared to 2022.
In this context, Dr. Edu informed Mr. Ioannou about the new population containment program currently underway in Nigeria. Through this action, the Government of Nigeria informs the citizens of the country, especially the youth, about the prospects that are opening up in Nigeria for their employment in the country itself. The two ministers agreed to provide the Nigerian government with the material used for the information campaign, so that it could be used by the Nigerian authorities as part of their national population control information program.
Finally, the Minister of the Interior met with the Minister of the Interior and Immigration of Lebanon, with whom they reviewed the developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Taking into account that in recent months there has been an increase in sea arrivals and given that a significant number of boats depart from the coast of Lebanon, Mr. Ioannou underlined the urgent need to strengthen controls by the Lebanese authorities.
The Cypriot Minister reiterated the position, which is also expressed in the Institutions of the European Union (EU), in support of Lebanon, recognizing the problems the country faces due to its proximity to Syria and the pressures it receives from massive flows of Syrians in its territories . Mr. Bou Habib expressed his country's thanks to the Republic of Cyprus for its initiative to promote at the European level the logistical and financial support of Lebanon.
Finally, Mr. Ioannou and Bou Habib agreed that the EU's position towards the Syrian regime should be immediately reviewed, taking into account the latest contacts and commitments of the regime to the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in relation to the implementation of the required steps to restore security on the territory of Syria for the repatriation of its citizens. They noted the need to promote investments in Syria that will create prospects for rebuilding the country and, by extension, development prospects that will contribute to the containment of the population.
Mr. Ioannou returns to Cyprus today.