Nicosia, Cyprus. Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said international media have presented an exaggerated picture of conditions in Cyprus after the island was hit by an Iranian-made drone last week. He said normality continues in the country.
Claims of exaggerated reporting
Speaking at a press briefing at the presidential palace on Thursday, Letymbiotis said an image of the situation in Cyprus is being presented with a high degree of exaggeration, mainly by international media. He said the real situation in the country remains normal.
Travel and tourism impact
Letymbiotis said flight schedules for the majority of airlines have been restored and that Cyprus continues to be an attractive tourist destination. He noted this amid concerns expressed by the Cyprus chamber of commerce about tourism booking cancellations and a slowdown in bookings.
Ongoing flight cancellations
Despite restored schedules for many carriers, more than 30 flights per day to and from the Republic of Cyprus’ two airports continue to be cancelled, with most cancellations affecting routes between the island and the Middle East.
Preventative measures and international support
Letymbiotis said measures taken, including the deployment of naval frigates by five European Union member states to waters off Cyprus and the deployment of four Greek F-16 fighter jets to the island, are preventative. He expressed appreciation for actions taken by other EU member states.
He also cited the simultaneous visit to Cyprus by the president of France and the Greek prime minister, saying their statements and expressions of solidarity and support, and the identification of the European Union as being by the side of the Republic of Cyprus, carry strong symbolic and essential significance.
Message on normality
Letymbiotis said the government seeks to present what he described as the true image of Cyprus as a European Union member state in which normality prevails, and said the measures taken are those a state in the region would take during a regional crisis. He said the measures are being taken without exaggeration and without news that does not correspond to reality, adding that this referred mainly to how international media are presenting the situation in Cyprus.
How do you assess the impact of international media coverage on perceptions of the situation in Cyprus?
