Cyprus concerned about arrivals of Syrian refugees from Lebanon. Cyprus currently has the second highest rate of asylum seekers in the European Union relative to its population.
In recent days, 350 people in 48 hours, a record. The Cypriot president has an explanation: according to him, Lebanon, 160 kilometers away, would encourage illegal crossings. “I fully understand the challenges Lebanon faces, but exporting migrants to Cyprus should not be the answer and cannot be accepted,” Nikos Christo-Doulides tells RFI.