Cyprus-Forum.com

[Piratis]

CYPRUS IS now top for the number of applications per capita for asylum seekers coming to the industrialised world, according to the United Nations, despite the overall number falling by a fifth in 2004 to its lowest level in 16 years.

“Compared to national population size, Cyprus received the largest number of asylum requests during 2000-2004 (22 asylum-seekers per 1,000 inhabitants), followed by Austria (18) and Norway (15). In 2004, Cyprus was the main recipient (12 asylum-seekers per 1,000 inhabitants), followed by Luxembourg (3.5) and Malta (3.1),” the report says.

The UN's latest figures, based on data coming from each of the 50 richest industrialised nations, state that within Europe and despite asylum applications decreasing from just under 400,000 to 314,300 over the last year, Cyprus, Finland, South Korea, Malta, Poland and Slovakia have reached all-time highs. The only large country to see a rise in asylum figures was France, where applicants were up last year to 61,600 from 59,700 in 2003.

Speaking about the overall reduction in the number of asylum seekers, Raymond Hall, who directs the UNHCR's Europe Bureau, said, "This is a clear reflection of the impact a concerted effort to improve conditions in the region of origin can have on numbers seeking asylum further afield.”

The new statistics "should reduce the pressure by politicians, media and the public to make asylum systems more and more restrictive ...", he added.

"In most industrialised countries, it should simply not be possible to claim there is a huge asylum crisis any more."

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=18642

It is good to know that we are Number 1 in something

[andytandreou]

It is good to know that we are Number 1 in something

I hate it when people say things like that btw....


on to your subject, I think that the ever-increasing prosperity in Cyprus is making these people migrate in droves! The solution is clear: Tighten our assylum laws to stop these people from taking advantage of our nation and bring in new laws that would encourage more Polish, Latvian and other Europeans to move to Cyprus with their families (if employment needs are to be fullfiled) and allow foreign student to work part time.

[michalis5354]

! The solution is clear: Tighten our assylum laws to stop these people from taking advantage of our nation and bring in new laws that would encourage more Polish, Latvian and other Europeans to move to Cyprus with their families (if employment needs are to be fullfiled) and allow foreign student to work part time.

There is no need to discriminate between europeans and other immigrants I personally would not like such a change to take place!

Do you think Europeans are more loyal? they are more hard working ?I dont think so..........!

And who takes advantage of whom? I think it is the other way around

[sk]

i think we should take an example from denmark....it has extremely strict immigration rules and that is why the current prime minister won again,he insisted on keeping these tough laws

[erolz]

i think we should take an example from denmark....it has extremely strict immigration rules and that is why the current prime minister won again,he insisted on keeping these tough laws

Not aimed at anyone in particular but I feel I should point out there is a difference between imigration and seeking asylum. A country could have the strictist laws re immigration and still top the tables for asylum seekers or visa versa.

[cannedmoose]

I agree with the previous point re: asylum seeking is not synonymous with immigration. I think the most recent figures are a spike resulting from EU accession, Cyprus is now on the front line of the EU and should expect to see more asylum seekers hitting its shores attempting to gain entry to the Union.

On a related point, it seems to me that a great problem for Cyprus as regards immigration more generally is that a large number of people are caught between a characteristically Cypriot xenophobia - in it's most literal sense, suspicion and fear of outsiders, not in any violent way - and a dislike of performing themselves the everyday menial tasks required by a modern society.

The fact that Cyprus is one of the most highly educated societies in Europe has led to a dearth of workers willing to do the most basic jobs like cleaning and refuse collection. As a result, imported labour is necessary to ensure the continued operation of some basic services. Historically this has come from Asia, but I think this may gradually change, with workers coming from Eastern Europe instead.

So, whilst many Cypriots will naturally complain about the high levels of immigration - the same is true of people in the UK who whine on about it, this stream of labour, often cheap labour is actually the lifeblood of the country. The alternative is to stop building such large houses that you can't maintain yourself (sometimes the size of houses in Cyprus are reminiscent to me of the whites houses in South Africa during apartheid) and do your cleaning yourself.

Regardless, now that you're in the EU, Europeans are free to come and go as they please, so I'd suggest that we all get used to an increasingly multicultural Cyprus.

[sk]

denmark has strict asylum laws also(according to my eurosceptic,xenophobic danish girlfriend),she voted for the far right wing in the recent danish elections......anyways i think all european countries are becoming multicultural its just they all need time to adjust to this new mixed society...