Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides visited today the buffer zone area near the occupied village of Avlona and conducted an inspection of the fence that has been installed to restrict the entrance of irregular migrants from the occupied areas to the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Ioannides said that an evaluation study of the fence has already been commissioned, and that on this basis a proposal will be prepared for the President of the Republic and then a decision will be made. Prior to the visit to the buffer zone, Deputy Minister of migration held a meeting with Community Council members of occupied Avlona at the premises of the Community Council of neighboring Akaki village and then visited the Buffer Zone near the Akaki-Avlona road. In statements to the press, Ioannides explained that the purpose of his visit to the buffer zone is to ascertain with his own eyes the situation on the ground in relation to the fence. He assured the residents of the a rea that the President of the Republic and the Government acknowledge their problems. "Following the meeting we had last week in my office, I came to verify on the ground what we have discussed, to see exactly how things are going", he noted, recalling that as already mentioned "in collaboration with the Minister of Justice who has requested a study on the operational evaluation of the barbed wire, a recommendation will be prepared so tha a decision regarding the barbed wire will be made". "I just wanted to see for myself how the situation is, to hear on the spot and from the residents of the area, so that I have a clear picture when we have the data, and we are ready to prepare a proposal to the President of the Republic", he said. When asked if, based on the picture he has, he considers the barbed wire to be useful, Nicholas Ioannides clarified that he himself cannot evaluate the barbed wire operationally, adding that he understands that some practical problems are created for the residents, problems that he came to hear and see. "When we have the report by the Police, which is the security body, then we will be able to have a complete picture," he added. Asked if the possibility of moving the barbed wire is open depending on the Police's findings, the Deputy Minister of Migration confirmed that this depends on the findings, noting that the authorities will be able to have a better picture and decide in relation to the recommendation to the President of the Republic, and then make a decision. Asked on whether there are data on how many people, immigrants, are currently stranded in the buffer zone, he said that there are about 70 people in total in the two camps in the buffer zone. "As we have said, a dialogue has started with the High Commission for Refugees in order to find a solution, it is an issue that concerns us, we are concerned about the humanitarian aspect, so we provide the essentials to these people, but on the other hand, as we have repeatedly said there is our firm position that we do not want a new corridor to be created through the green line especially now that we do not have maritime migration flows" he pointed out. Answering another question he said that the responsibility of the High Commission is the protection of refugees, so it approaches the issue strictly from a humanitarian aspect, however, he noted that to solve such a problem, which is multidimensional and complex, it is not only the humanitarian aspect to be considered, there is also the politics, there is also the legal aspect, so there must be a discussion to find a solution. Asked if something will change regarding the issue of surveillance of the green line with possible tightening of measures, the Deputy Minister of Migration explained that this is also an operational issue, however he reminded that there is already a special surveillance unit. "The Republic of Cyprus shows that it is interested in the proper surveillance of the green line as required by the Regulation on the Green Line", he said and reiterated that "it is no t a border and we will never allow it to become a border". When asked if the Republic of Cyprus is ready for possible new migration flows taking into account the situation in the Middle East, Ioannides said that the Nafkratis Plan has been updated regarding migration flows, reminding that there are also other national plans regarding evacuation and crisis management. As he noted, the Republic's authorities are ready, "depending on the circumstances to deal with the situation", clarifying at the same time that a conflict in the region does not automatically imply new migration flows. "We will see this depending on how things develop," he added. Source : Cyprus News Agency