Nouris requests UN assistance with irregular migration flows

Interior Minister Nicos Nouris has asked for the help of UNFICYP in dealing with increased migration flows in the government-controlled areas of Cyprus from the Turkish-occupied territories through the buffer zone.

The Interior Minister, who is paying the US a visit, had a meeting at the United Nations, with the Director of the Office of the UN Secretary-General, Courtenay Rattray, in New York on Thursday during which they discussed the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean as well as the problem of migration flows in Cyprus.

Nouris raised the issue of the alarming increase over the last period of migration flows from the Turkish-occupied territories through the buffer zone, attributing it to the instrumentalization of migrants on the part of Turkey and requesting UNFICYP's help to address the problem.

Rattray assured Nouris that he would inform UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the situation.

On Friday, the Interior Minister will have a meeting at the United Nations with Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.