Some years ago a group of asylum seekers came directly from third countries to the British Bases (SBA’s) in Cyprus. It is a mixed group, some of them are Syrian Kurds, some of them Iraqis and some of them from other Arab countries. These Refugees have seeked asylum in the SBA’s and they remain there since then. Some of them have been recognised as refugees from eligibility officers of the U.K. Home Office and some have been rejected without however been deported or given any other international protection status from the SBA’s.

The majority of these persons have been living in the SBA’s for more than seven years, some of them even nine years. They have been provided up to now with housing, welfare benefits, medical care and schooling for the children from the SBA’s.

Recently, on 14 February 2007, all refugees and asylum seekers of the SBA’s were send a letter by the authorities of the Bases informing them that their files have been transferred under the responsibility of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. At the same time, the Asylum Service of the Ministry of Interior informed them also that their files have been transferred to the Asylum Service and has also send refugees with the necessary letter of recognition as a refugees informing them that they have to arrange their papers with the Government, and to the asylum seekers a confirmation letter that they are asylum seekers under the responsibility of the Asylum Service of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.

The majority of these refugees is afraid that in case they are transferred to the Republic of Cyprus, they will loose any rights that may have been derived from their long residence in the SBA’s on the basis of the Cypriot law.

Nobody have assured them that the years of residence in the SBA’s will be recognised as years of residence in the Republic of Cyprus so that recognised refugees will be entitled at least to submit a citizenship application immediately. Moreover no assurances were given to the rejected asylum seekers who have been residing for more than seven years in the SBA’s that they will not be deported immediately.

In the light of all the above, it is understandable why the SBA’s asylum seekers and recognised refugees refuse o leave the SBA’s and to transfer to the Republic of Cyprus and demand:

1. As the U.K. is responsible under international law for their protection,
a. the recognised refugees should be resettled to the U.K. or any other country willing to accept them if they also agree,
b. asylum seekers should be resettled to the U.K. and to be given a legal status that corresponds to the many years they have been residing in the SBA’s in accordance with international human rights law.
Alternatively,
2. If they are to be transferred to the Republic of Cyprus
a. this should be done voluntarily and not by force
b. refugees should be immediately given travel documents by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus
c. asylum seekers should be given the status of residence permit at least on humanitarian grounds without any reconsideration of their case by the Asylum Service on the basis of the many years they have been residing in the SBA’s.
d. the years of residence in the SBA’s for both asylum seekers and recognised refugees or persons under other forms of international protection should be recognised for all purposes as years of residence in the Republic of Cyprus.