POLITICS OMADA NEWS #Syria #Deputy Minister of Immigration #Immigration
There is already a flow of requests from Syrian nationals to the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and International Protection to withdraw their requests for political asylum, the responsible Deputy Minister Nikolas Ioannidis told KYPE, assuring that the Deputy Ministry will do everything possible for their repatriation.
Already, the Group called "Syrians in Cyprus" has published its letter to the Deputy Minister with a plea to the Cypriot Government for an organized, safe and dignified return of those Syrians who choose voluntary repatriation to their country.
Invited by the KYPE to comment on the Syrian letter and to refer to the actions of the Deputy Ministry, Mr. Ioannidis said that the Syrians have already started to submit applications for the withdrawal of their requests for asylum with the intention of their repatriation. "Our Deputy Ministry is duly evaluating the requests to withdraw the requests and appropriate actions will be taken for their repatriation," he added.
As he explained, after the requests they have submitted to the Republic of Cyprus for obtaining asylum are withdrawn, some documents will be issued by the Immigration Department of the Deputy Ministry and then they will have to find a way to go back to Syria themselves. Since it is not a forced repatriation or deportation but a voluntary return, Mr. Ioannidis, to arrange for themselves to find flights to travel back to Syria, either directly or through third countries.
In response to a question, Mr. Ioannidis said that the Deputy Ministry processes requests for the withdrawal of asylum requests at a rapid pace. "I have given instructions to facilitate recall requests and to enter the system of voluntary departures," he added.
Asked about the number of people who requested the withdrawal of their request for asylum, Mr. Ioannidis said that by early afternoon there were 20 people who withdrew their requests, while there are also people who were already under protection status and want this status revoked in order to return to their country. He noted, however, that it is still early hours and that he expects even more applications in the coming days as there is already a flow of withdrawal requests. "We are doing what is necessary to facilitate the process and move forward," he concluded.
In their letter, the members of the "Syrians in Cyprus" Group state that in the Republic of Cyprus they found a privileged State that offered them protection, all these years that they are far from their towns and villages.
They note that with the letter, they ask the Government, firstly, to take the necessary measures for the organized, safe and dignified return of those who choose voluntary repatriation to Syria, and secondly, to expand the Assisted Voluntary Returns (AVR) program to cover Syrians nationals.
Source: KYPE
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