The National Security Council convened at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday to discuss the recent arrivals of migrants via boats in Cyprus.
The meeting, which included the Ministers of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Public Order, Defence, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, the Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General, the Chief of Police, the National Guard, and the Head of the Intelligence Service, aimed to address the surge in arrivals predominantly from Lebanon via sea.
In statements to the press, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letympiotis underscored the critical nature of the situation, noting that the majority of migrant arrivals have been recorded in the past few days.
He noted that the number of departures overtook arrivals for the first time in months, a trend the government is keen to maintain.
“We want to maintain this positive image,” Letympiotis remarked.
The Spokesperson elaborated on the various measures and collaborative efforts with the EU and European partners, aimed at managing the situation.
However, specific decisions made during the meeting remain undisclosed, with Letympiotis stating, “These are decisions that we cannot announce today, but various issues have been raised by all relevant Ministries.”
He also stressed the importance of continued coordination at the EU level, given Cyprus’s proximity to Lebanon and the recent uptick in immigration.
Regarding the infrastructure to accommodate these flows, Letympiotis expressed concern about the country’s capacity, stating, “With the pace at which the flows are increasing in recent days, we are at our limits.”
The government is actively engaging with Lebanese authorities to address the high immigration flows and has initiated discussions at the EU level regarding the situation in Syria, specifically the conditions that dictate the regime of international protection for Syrian nationals, he explained.
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