Brussels, 28/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - MEPs believe that the reception conditions in Cypriot centres for illegal immigrants and asylum seekers are better than in other EU member states. A delegation from the European Parliament (EP) civil liberties committee (Libe) visited Cyprus from 25 to 27 May as part of its programme of visits to detention centres throughout the EU. “Clearly, it's a place of imprisonment, but we saw that conditions are good. In some member states, the situation is terrible,” said Martine Roure (PES, France), who led the delegation, after visiting the centres at Kofinou, Famagusta and the Nicosia central prison. In Cyprus, around 200 people are being held because only those whose request for asylum has been rejected or those who have committed a crime are placed in centres. “Asylum seekers are free, something we very much appreciated,” commented Roure in a press release. During their visit, MEPs also met Home Affairs Minister Neoklis Sylikiotis, Labour and Social Security Minister Sotiroula Charalambous and representatives of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and NGOs. Roure also spoke about the influx of illegal immigrants from the northern part of the island. “This is a huge problem for Turkey, which is a candidate country for accession to the EU, and has to assume its responsibilities and show solidarity,” she said. She hoped to be able to discuss the issue with new Immigration Commissioner designate Jacques Barrot, to call on Turkey to take steps. (B.C.)