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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 10-11-08
CONTENTS
[01] IMMIGRATION - SEMINAR
[02] CCCI - BALKAN CHAMBERS
[01] IMMIGRATION - SEMINAR
Turkey and the Turkish-occupied northern areas of Cyprus are part of
the route used by traffickers for transporting illegal immigrants to
the government-controlled areas of Cyprus, Petros Kareklas, Permanent
Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order has said.
Addressing the 28th FBI NAA European Chapter Retraining Session, in
Limassol on legal and illegal immigration, Kareklas recalled that as a
consequence of the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island, almost 37% of
the territory of the Republic of Cyprus is still occupied by the
Turkish armed forces and as a result, the Government of the Republic
does not exercise an effective control of the occupied areas. ``It
should be also stressed that together with Turkey the occupied areas
are part of the route used by traffickers who transport illegal
immigrants into the Government controlled areas of the Republic of
Cyprus``, he added.
Referring to the globalised environment, Kareklas said that the
opportunities provided nowadays facilitate the movement of persons and
at the same time increase the level of migration, both legal and
illegal. He added that Cyprus geographical position in the eastern
Mediterranean region and at the crossroads of three continents renders
it an important ally in the fight against international organised
crime. ``The role of Cyprus against international crime is upgraded due
to the fact that Cyprus is in the vicinity of areas with not very
stable political and economic situations,`` he noted.
Kareklas also said the Cyprus Ministry of Justice and Public Order,
acknowledging the challenges posed by legal and illegal immigration and
what these entail, and in close co-operation with other governmental
authorities takes and implements all necessary measures to confront all
the issues arising from these challenges. According to Kareklas, the
Republic of Cyprus, as an EU Member State, in order to fulfill its
obligations stemming from the relevant acquis, for developing an area
of justice, freedom and security, as well as to prepare for future
challenges both at European and global level, pursue and implement the
European Union immigration policy.
[02] CCCI - BALKAN CHAMBERS
President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) Manthos
Mavrommatis has been elected Vice President of the Balkan Chambers for
2011 and President for 2012. Mavrommatis was elected during the General
Assembly of the Balkan Chambers, which took place in Bosnia on November
4 and 5.
The election of Mavrommatis is considered to be significant, since he
will be President of the Balkan Chambers in 2012, when Cyprus will be
holding the rotating EU presidency in the second half of the year.
The General Assembly discussed the impact of the global financial
crisis on Balkan countries and recovery measures.
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