Cyprus Mail
CyprusFeatured

Cyprus and India sign letter of intent for migration partnership

Υπουργός Εσωτερικών – Υπουργός Εξ

Cyprus and India on Thursday signed a letter of intent for a ‘migration and mobility partnership’, initiating the process for an eventual agreement on migration between the two nations.

The letter of intent was signed by Interior Minister Nicos Nouris and India’s Foreign Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, currently on an official visit to the island.

The letter of intent initiates formal discussions on facilitating the swift repatriation of Indians who have had their asylum applications rejected and allowing business professionals and academics to more easily travel and work in both countries.

The interior ministry said that a formal agreement is expected to be signed in February next year.

According to the press release, the signing was made following Nouris’ recent contacts in India with that country’s deputy minister of the interior responsible for migration.

The ministry also expressed satisfaction with “the willingness and response of the Indian government to regulate the serious issue of migration on the basis of a comprehensive agreement.”

Nouris had visited New Delhi in mid-November, attending the 3rd International Ministerial Conference on Combating the Financing of Terrorism.

In talks with Indian officials, Nouris had pointed out the need to conclude an agreement on the re-admission of people residing illegally in the two countries, an agreement that Cyprus has already submitted to the Indian government.

He had also proposed the establishment of a liaison officer of the government of India in Cyprus for direct and close cooperation with Cypriot police to deal with the phenomenon of fake documents, the trafficking and exploitation of persons, as well as the fight against drug trafficking.

Applications for asylum in Cyprus rose to 18,345 between January and October of this year. Interior Minister Nicos Nouris said earlier this month that the number of people with pending asylum claims and those who have already been granted a more limited protection status is equal to more than 6 per cent of Cyprus’ population.

According to Asylum Service data, Indian nationals made up 7 per cent of all new asylum applicants last year, and 16 per cent in 2020.

Follow the Cyprus Mail on Google News

Related Posts

Social worker service to be expanded

Rony J. El Daccache

Hundreds of birds dead in cage fire

Tom Cleaver

President urges swift progress on tax reform

Kyriacos Nicolaou

Verdict on Nicolaou’s death expected on May 10

Jonathan Shkurko

One in ten women of reproductive age in Cyprus have endometriosis

Iole Damaskinos

Anti-racism campaigner banned from north sparking criticism

Tom Cleaver