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<p>Thirty-eight refugee applications from migrants living in the Sovereign Base Areas
before 1 December 2008 had been open but not determined on 8 August 2014. Delays in
processing asylum applications were due to the migrants refusing to co-operate with
case workers handling their claims. In 2003, an MOU was agreed with the Republic of
Cyprus on the handling of illegal migrants in the Sovereign Base Areas. Under the
terms of that agreement, all applications for asylum from migrants present in the
Sovereign Base Areas at that time were considered by the Republic on behalf of the
Sovereign Base Areas Administration by specialist staff of the Republic of Cyprus
Asylum Service.</p><p> </p><p>The 38 migrants were informed they were failed asylum
seekers following their prolonged unwillingness to engage with Republic of Cyprus
asylum case workers. The intent of the Refugees (Amendment) Ordinance 2014 was to
regularise the residency status of failed asylum seekers residing in the Sovereign
Base Areas, so as to grant them temporary residence until they could be returned to
their country of origin or a third country. No persons amongst this group have yet
been removed from the Sovereign Base Areas as a consequence of this ordinance. They
remain liable for return.</p>
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