We do not accept lectures on how to manage immigration issue, PoR says

The Republic of Cyprus does not accept lectures from anyone on how to manage the issue of immigrants, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said Friday. The President, who was arriving at the presentation of the Cyprus Olympic Team that took place in the Olympic House, in Nicosia, was asked whether immigrants that are stranded in the buffer zone were deliberately allowed to enter. He replied that the Republic of Cyprus has informed both the United Nations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees of its readiness to assist in any humanitarian issues in relation to these individuals. Moreover, he said that the Republic of Cyprus does not accept lectures on the management of the immigration issue from anyone. "We have proven many times our sensitivity to this specific issue, but also how we manage it" he said, adding that it is easy for those who are not in Cyprus to make statements on the matter. The management regarding the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, the effective control exercised by the government of the Republic of Cyprus, are two issues that are done following decisions of the government. Stressing that we will not allow -under any circumstances - the creation of a new route for irregular immigrants, he noted that we have conveyed in many cases our readiness to help in the management of this problem. It is a challenge that the government is ready to address, he went on to say. The President conveyed a message to those who think that with public statements they put pressure on the Republic saying that they will not achieve anything by that. Such problems, he noted, are addressed through cooperation and not through public interventions. Source: Cyprus News Agency