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Cyprus` Interior Minister Nicos Nouris told MPs on Thursday that progress has been achieved in preventing illegal immigrants from arriving to Cyprus.

Nouris, who was briefing the parliamentary committee of interior, said that Cyprus ranks first in the EU in migrant inflows but that it has managed to stop illegal immigrants from coming to Cyprus under the guise of studying and from performing fraudulent marriages. Through these schemes 2,000 to 2,500 immigrants would arrive on the island every year, he added.

He also said that the inflow of illegal immigrants arriving by sea has also been curbed following a return agreement signed with Lebanon.

Nouris added that the inflow of illegal immigrants continues through the Green Line, separating the government controlled areas of Cyprus and the Turkish occupied areas, noting however that an effort is ongoing to check the points from were illegal entries take place.

He also said that in the first half o 2021 Cyprus rejected 7,000 asylum application, but that another 5,5000 applicants have arrived on the island and that their return to the country of provenance is difficult since there are no return agreements with particular third countries. He expressed the hope that Cyprus will be able to use the help of Frontex.

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Progress in preventing illegal immigration - Stockwatch