For Nicosia and Brussels, Lebanon’s responsibilities regarding the flow of irregular migrants to Cyprus are clear.
President Christodoulides, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is travelling to Beirut today, conveying specific messages in coordination with the European Commission.
These messages relate to the benefits Lebanon will reap if it takes its own responsibilities to prevent the trafficking of migrants by illegal means, while also highlighting the consequences of the ongoing situation.
The significance of today’s trip to Beirut is underscored by the delegation accompanying the President of the Republic.
Alongside him will be the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior, the Chief of the National Guard, and the Director of the Central Information Service.
Such a delegation is rarely seen from the Cypriot side concerning visits to regional countries.
This mission also aims to demonstrate to the Lebanese side the magnitude of the problem and the responsibilities borne by the neighbouring country, which seems to take no measures whatsoever to prevent the illegal trafficking of migrants.
According to an official announcement, President Christodoulides and the Cypriot delegation, during their stay in Beirut, will meet and hold discussions with the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati.
The announcement states that the main topic of discussion will be the increased flows of irregular migrants, mainly Syrians, from Lebanon to Cyprus.
The President of the Republic will also meet with the President of the Lebanese Parliament, Nabih Berri. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior, as well as the Chief of the National Guard, will have separate meetings with their Lebanese counterparts.
The fact that the majority of individuals transported from Lebanon to Cyprus are Syrian nationals creates an additional problem for the Cypriot side, as they cannot be repatriated due to coming from a conflict zone.
However, Lebanon has a responsibility to keep Syrian refugees on its soil, receiving support both from the European Union and the international community. Yet, recent numbers and reports indicate that Lebanon is far from fulfilling its obligations.
President Christodoulides had a meeting yesterday in Athens with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
According to sources from the President’s office, the meeting was conducted in an excellent atmosphere. According to government sources, the meeting between President Christodoulides and the President of the European Commission focused on ways the EU can specifically support the Republic of Cyprus in deterring migration flows.
They also discussed the messages President Christodoulides is expected to convey to Lebanon today on behalf of the EU.
President von der Leyen appeared to be fully informed about the situation concerning the trafficking of irregular migrants to Cyprus.
She was positive about the messages President Christodoulides will convey to the Lebanese government today, messages that seem to have the full support of the Commission, something that will be highlighted in the Beirut discussions.
The situation as it stands in migration, especially flows from Lebanon to Cyprus, will also be discussed at the informal European Council meeting scheduled for April 18-19.
This leaves Lebanon approximately ten days to act accordingly and take measures to prevent the illegal trafficking of migrants from its shores to Cyprus.
Given the developments until then, it is expected that the European Union’s response will be equally strong.
It is noted that on Saturday, Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou emphasized that “since last summer, we have expressed through public statements and letters to the EU that Lebanon should be financially supported, precisely because there are over two million Syrian refugees on its territory.”
Unfortunately, the Minister continued, since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas last October, the situation in Lebanon has worsened due to economic problems and political instability in the country.
This, he pointed out, has caused “a significant increase in the number of flows due to events in Gaza.”
Meeting with Mitsotakis
Migration issues, the Cyprus problem, and issues of bilateral cooperation were at the centre of the meeting between the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Christodoulides in Athens, with the Greek side also emphasizing its support for the Cypriot initiative “Amalthea” for a humanitarian corridor in Gaza.
Specifically, Mitsotakis met with the President of the Republic at the Maximos Mansion, who was in Athens to participate in the 15th Congress of New Democracy.
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in Cyprus and the continuation of Greece-Cyprus cooperation and coordination in view of upcoming discussions.
Furthermore, the meeting focused on the issue of new migration flows to Cyprus, which “cause great concern for a new migration route due to ongoing instability and violence in the Middle East,” as stated by the Press Office of the Greek Prime Minister.
Finally, the Greek Prime Minister reiterated Greece’s steadfast support for the Cypriot initiative “Amalthea” for the humanitarian corridor in Gaza.
