Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said Cyprus has spoken with regional and European leaders to support a humanitarian role amid disruption affecting countries in the region. He said Japan and China have approached Cyprus about potentially evacuating their nationals.
Humanitarian role and aircraft requests
Christodoulides said flight cancellations are affecting countries in the region and that Cyprus has received requests to park commercial aircraft in the country. He said Cyprus responds to its humanitarian role “with deeds and not words,” adding that this role is internationally recognised.
Accounting for Cypriots in affected countries
Asked how many Cyprus citizens are in the affected countries, Christodoulides said a Sunday morning meeting under the foreign ministry’s director general with heads of diplomatic missions would address the issue. He noted that the government spokesman and the foreign minister on Saturday called on residents in those countries to contact Cyprus representatives and register their presence.
He said authorities have information on permanent residents of Cypriot origin and Cypriot nationals in those countries, while noting that some Cypriot tourists were also present. He said the recording effort is intended to provide an overall picture and that by Sunday afternoon the government expects to have the total number.
Contacts with EU leaders and planned teleconference
Christodoulides said he has spoken by phone with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis. He added that Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos will take part in a teleconference later on Sunday with other EU foreign ministers to discuss the situation in the region.
What steps do you think Cyprus should prioritise in its humanitarian role in the region?
