Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said a planned state visit to Lebanon aims to discuss ways to bolster the country’s coast guard and combat people-smuggling networks fueling a surge in migrant arrivals.
Speaking at the General Assembly of the Union of Cyprus Communities, Minister Ioannou affirmed, “The purpose of the upcoming visit to Lebanon is to discuss with the Lebanese authorities ways to increase the country’s capacity to more effectively monitor its coasts and intensify efforts to combat people-smuggling rings operating in the country.”
In light of recent influxes of Syrian nationals from Lebanon, Minister Ioannou expressed anticipation for outcomes from President Christodoulides’ forthcoming meetings with the European Commission and Lebanese authorities.
He stated, “There is planning in place, and depending on the results, we will see how we proceed as the Republic of Cyprus.”
Addressing expectations for the Lebanon visit, Minister Ioannou stressed the importance of financially supporting Lebanon, especially given the challenges exacerbated by regional conflicts. He highlighted the surge in arrivals, attributing it partly to events in Gaza and emphasising the need for cooperation in apprehending smugglers.
Regarding migrant encounters with Marine Police and vessel entries, Ioannou reiterated Cyprus’s commitment to international agreements.
He cited challenges in preventing entries due to migrants’ responses and underscored the impossibility of unilateral returns to Lebanon.
On decongesting reception centres, Minister Ioannou outlined efforts to expedite applications and noted cooperation with certain EU states for voluntary relocations. He expressed concerns over sustained arrival rates and potential strain on resources.
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