The Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, Dr Nicholas A. Ioannides, will depart to Switzerland on Wednesday, as head of a delegation of the Deputy Ministry, where he will pay an official visit, accepting the invitation of the Deputy Minister for Migration of the Swiss Confederation, Christine Schraner Burgener.
According to a statement, the visit will provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on issues of common interest, including the challenges in managing migration, but also to study on the ground the Swiss approach to addressing the migration issue, good practices, the infrastructure and the legislation in force, with an emphasis on the exchange of know-how in addressing and managing migration, particularly in the areas of integration and social cohesion.
It is added that Ioannides will also be received by Beat Jans, Member of the Swiss Federal Council and Minister of Justice and Police, with whom he will discuss, inter alia, issues related to the implementation of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, as well as Swiss funding of projects and infrastructure under the Swiss-Cyprus Cooperation Programme.
In the context of his visit to Switzerland, the Deputy Minister will also meet in Geneva with Amy Pope, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Pierre Krahenbuhl, Director General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), while in parallel, the Permanent Secretary of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Dr Neofytos Papadopoulos, will hold meetings with officials of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Ioannides will return to Cyprus on Sunday, 1 December 2024, the statement concludes.
Also read: DepMin: Migration flows and asylum seekers’ applications down
Source: CNA/KA/AGK/2024
