WILLEMSTAD - Undersecretary Raymond Knops (Kingdom Relations) says that Curaçao has an asylum policy that distinguishes between economic migrants and people who are entitled to asylum and that the Netherlands does not have to interfere. Knops answered this on Wednesday during questions at a press conference in Curaçao.

As long as there is no official request from Curaçao for help with unregistered Venezuelans, the Netherlands will not intervene," emphasizes Knops. The Undersecretary concluded his three-day working visit on Wednesday with Minister Kajsa Ollongren on the windward islands. Ollongren was for an introductory visit to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

"National Affairs"

The working visit ended in Curaçao with a short press conference in which there was only room for five questions, which mainly concerned the situation in neighboring country Venezuela and the impending indication for Curaçao. Knops emphasizes that the reception of Venezuelan migrants and asylum policy is a "country affair". According to Knops, the Netherlands takes "international" responsibility by financing NGOs that support Venezuelan refugees in neighboring Colombia.