Minister of Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis of Cyprus

INTERIOR Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis was yesterday asked to promote better coordination between his ministry and the police in deportation proceedings, especially those involving underage children.

During the meeting, Sylikiotis had blamed part of the many problems faced by the Immigration Department on the lack of staff.

Greek Cypriot Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis said on Wednesday that southern Cyprus is sterner than other EU member states in certain penalties imposed on employers of illegal workers, since legislation provides for fines and imprisonment.

Speaking at Larnaca Airport before departing for Brussels, where he will participate in the EU Justice and Interior Ministers' Council, Sylikiotis said ''in some penalties we are stricter,'' noting that discussions and drafting an EU directive on the issue would create a better framework for managing the situation.

Sylikiotis said it was very important for the agreement to be approved, because it would help the EU handle immigration issues, especially for smaller and Mediterranean member states.

Cypriot Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis has urged the European Union to take the necessary measures to further support its member states whose asylum system is facing an increasing burden.

Addressing an EU Ministers` Council on Asylum, in Paris, Sylikiotis said that, according to EU statistics, Cyprus has the highest number of asylum applications among all 27 EU member states, in relation to its population.

08Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has ordered an investigation into the issuing of a passport and an identidy card to fugitive lifer Antonis Kitas, who is still at large after escaping from hospital a week ago.

Mr Sylikiotis said that sentencing by a court does not automaticaly ban the issuing of government documents to prisoners.

Mr Sylikiotis said the investigation is aimed at ascertaing who had submitted the applications for the documents to be issued, who had certified his signature and why the police had not issued a banning order.

INTERIOR Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has asked for patience over the issue of withheld Title Deeds as pressure mounts for the Government to take action.

Minister Sylikiotis said Its not just about delays in issuing the deeds, it also concerns issues of planning and mortgages to the banks.

Sylikiotis said that Cyprus, at the most south-eastern external border of the European Union and close to a politically unstable region, has to contend with too great numbers of illegal immigrants and asylum applicants.

Sylikiotis said that although Cyprus faces serious problems with illegal migration, this does not mean that it joins voices that do not differentiate between legal and illegal migration and which claim that migration, in general, is a source of problems and instability.

Nicosia (March 2, 2007) -- The Melkonian Alumni Association of Cyprus would like to announce that Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis has issued a new preservation order on for the disputed estate of the Melkonian school in Nicosia which could cause.

INTERIOR MINISTER Neoclis Sylikiotis has called for patience as the government attempts to sort out the morass surrounding the non-issuance of title deed within a reasonable period.

Sylikiotis was responding to a report in the Sunday Mail that said British buyers had managed to bring their case to the attention of the British House of Lords.

Sylikiotis said it was not only British residents that were caught up in the title deeds issues but thousands of Cypriots and other foreigners.

Sylikiotis was referring to some developments that had been built without the necessary planning permission and which are not eligible for a certificate of completion.