Denmark agrees with Cyprus on return of Syrian refugees
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Denmark agreed with Cyprus on reevaluating certain areas in Syria as safe for potential return of Syrian refugees, seeking to form a unified stance on the issue in the European Union (EU).
Denmark’s Interior Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek expressed support for Cyprus and that it recognizes the huge pressure due to the large number of Syrian immigrants arriving to the island country.
Cyprus’ Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou and his Danish counterpart Dybvad thoroughly discussed the issue of Syrian refugees in a meeting on April 10.
Dybvad agreed with Ioannou’s proposal to promote the establishment of a group with the participation of European countries to prepare an official joint document to the European Commission on the Syrian issue.
Cyprus officials have frequently called the EU to discuss the designation of specific areas in Syria as safe to be able to return Syrian refugees.
Official figures indicate the rate of immigrants from Syria and Lebanon arriving to Cyprus by sea increased 355 percent, with 4,259 arriving in 2023 compared to 937 in 2022.
According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Syria remains the largest displacement crisis in the world with over 12 million Syrians displaced.