The Republic of Cyprus can play a role in efforts to improve the regional situation, said the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nicholas Ioannides, on Wednesday during a meeting with the Executive Director of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex), Hans Leijtens.
When asked whether he perceives a change in the European approach to migration and if this is possibly linked to the way the newly elected President of the United States is handling the issue, Ioannides clarified that this shift began before Donald Trump’ election.
He explained that EU member states and the European Commission “had realised that the serious and complex migration challenges [they] face, require a different management approach.” While there was previously a lack of central planning, he said that with the new EU Migration and Asylum Pact, “we (now) have the opportunity to address this critical issue comprehensively”. He also highligted that “it is positive that both the Commission and the majority of member states are determined to take decisive measures to address irregular migration, combat criminal networks, and improve perception of the issue.”
Following his meeting with the Executive Director of Frontex, Ioannides was asked by a journalist to comment on a recent social media post by the US President, which included an article referencing statements by the Deputy Minister during his talks in Washington regarding the India-Cyprus-Greece-European Union corridor (IMEC). Ioannides reaffirmed that the position he expressed during the discussions in the US “represents the positions of the President of the Republic, the government of the Republic of Cyprus- [namely] that Cyprus holds a vital strategic role in the region.”
He also mentioned that he had coordinated with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, and that they wanted to highlight that Cyprus is a state that provides strategic depth to the United States, conducts military exercises, and serves as a secure location for American forces.
Regarding the proposed corridor from India to Europe via the Gulf and Cyprus, Ioannides stated, “We wanted to reaffirm that the Republic of Cyprus is a reliable partner, capable of providing the stability and security required in the region.”
“[Cyprus] is a beacon of stability – this is what the President of the Republic always says, and it is important for the President of the United States to emphasise this”, he added.
Ioannides further noted that it seems, “that our position is recognised, that we can remain a stable ally of the United States in the region and help in broader plans, such as the IMEC, the situation in the Middle East, and the Abraham Accords, which appear to be coming back, in a renewed form.”
“We believe that as the Republic of Cyprus, we can play a role in this effort to enhance the situation in the region, to achieve stability and peace,” said the Deputy Minister.
Also read: Greece & Cyprus: Key players in Trump-era trade & peace revival
