The supplementary protection status will be removed from those holders who commit criminal offences, said the Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannidis, in his statements after the session of the Council of Ministers, chaired by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, on Thursday, in Presidential Palace.
The Deputy Minister of Immigration also stated that by tomorrow there will be developments regarding the agreements made with third countries for the repatriation of their citizens.
Today, the Cabinet approved the bill amending the Refugee Law, the Deputy Minister said, and thanked the Legislation Commissioner and the Legal Service for their assistance in drafting the amending bill.
"Besides the changes in relation to some technical terms that have arisen due to the establishment of the Department of Immigration and International Protection, the main purpose of this bill is to incorporate the Union provision which states that, in the event that subsidiary protection holders commit serious criminal offences, then we can take that additional protection away from them," he explained.
"This is very important and compatible with the EU legislation because it demonstrates the determination of the Government to deal with the delinquency of foreigners", emphasized the Deputy Minister of Immigration. "We provide hospitality and international protection in accordance with our international obligations, however, when this hospitality is abused, then in addition to criminal sanctions there is also the consequence of the removal of supplementary protection," he added.
He also noted that "supplementary protection is given to those individuals who do not meet the criteria for refugee status, precisely because they have been expelled from their country for various other reasons."
Responding to a question, the Deputy Minister of Immigration clarified that the amending bill concerns criminal offenses committed in the Republic of Cyprus, adding that holders of refugee and supplementary protection status are subject to the same laws as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus. "So, in case they commit serious criminal offences, then their status is revoked. They cease to have international protection," he explained.
Answering another question about the possibility of repatriation of these people, Mr. Ioannidis said that usually these people come from countries where they are at risk. "So, we cannot repatriate them, however there is the possibility, upon agreement with third countries, that they accept them or, if the conditions in their country of origin have changed, then repatriate them, as long as they will not be in danger," he said.
"There are no agreements (S.S. with third countries), however there is a practice and that is why we see large numbers of returns every month, because there is consultation and cooperation with states that accept the repatriation of their citizens", said Nikolas Ioannidis. "We have come to an agreement with some countries and by tomorrow we will have developments, the issue will be closed", he concluded.
Source: KYPE
