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59
CYPRUS
to enter Cyprus. The agreement was concluded to stop immigrants from arriving as tourists and
working illegally in Cyprus. 11
In the same year, an incident involving smuggled migrants on their way to Greece, who were
landed on the Cypriot shores by their smugglers, finally led to a similar agreement with Lebanon. 12
In 2002, Cyprus started to re-discuss its existing readmission agreements with Syria and
Lebanon, to finalize them according to the EU Model readmission agreements. By October
2003, the agreement with Lebanon had been signed and the one with Syria was in the final stages
of negotiation. 13
In 2001, the Republic of Cyprus had also established contacts with Portugal, Rumania and Egypt
with a view to negotiating readmission agreements. 14
Costs
These are reported in the table at the end of the chapter.
Detention
There is a 120-bed detention facility for undocumented asylum seekers and migrants. However,
according to USCR, foreigners were still being detained in jails at end 2002, as this facility had
not yet started operations by then. 15
The US Committee for Refugees also reported in its 2003 country report, on approximately
95 asylum seekers stranded in the Sovereign British Areas (these British bases occupy about
98 square miles in Cyprus). 16 This remaining group is mostly composed of rejected asylum
seekers (mostly Iraqis who cannot return to Iraq) who are not allowed to settle in the SBAs or
Cyprus.
Prosecution
Cyprus police officers have undergone training on border control issues touching upon trafficking
for sexual exploitation of adults and children. Forgery detection equipment as prescribed by
the Council Recommendation 398Y0617 (01), dated 28 May 1998, and new equipment for the
Port and Maritime Police and the Police Air wing, have been acquired.
Cyprus has established a coastal radar system, and acquired additional patrol boats and helicopters.
It has also set up the European Image Archiving System FADO. These enable Cyprus to
operate its external border control in compliance with the Schengen provisions.
Cyprus has also extended its cooperation with neighbouring countries, to better implement
existing domestic legislation and combat irregular migration, including trafficking. 17