(AP) Cyprus will install an electronic surveillance system along the buffer zone that divides the island nation along ethnic lines, to stem a surge in illegal immigration through the breakaway north, the government said Tuesday.
Government spokesman Marios Pelekanos announced the plan following a meeting of police and defense officials, chaired by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, on dealing with migrant arrivals.
According to European Union statistics, the number of migrants crossing from the Turkish-Cypriot north to the internationally-recognized, Greek-Cypriot south through the buffer zone in January-April rose 184% over the same period last year.
Pelekanos said Cyprus expects the EU — of which the eastern Mediterranean island is a member — to follow through on a promise for financial and material help to cope with the arrivals. Cyprus and the EU signed a deal on the matter last month.
