Cyprus continues to be secure spot in region, makes ‘humanitarian contribution’

Cyprus remains a constant pillar of security and humanitarian contribution in the region, government spokesman Konstantinos Letympiotis said on Sunday night after an extraordinary meeting of the National Secruty Council.

He said the meeting had taken place “iin the context of the continuous assessment of developments in the wider region and the coordination of the competent state services”.

During the meeting, an extensive assessment of the data in the Middle East region was made and the conditions of regional stability and humanitarian needs were assessed.

Increased security measures have already been taken and continue to be implemented.

Cyprus, he said, is in constant communication and coordination with its partners in the EU as well as the countries of the region.

In the last two days, President Nikos Christodoulides has spoken twice with the President of the European Commission, twice with the President of the European Council, with the President of the United Arab Emirates, with the Emir of Qatar, the King of Bahrain, the King of Jordan, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, twice with the British Prime Minister, once with the President of Lebanon, the President of France and the Prime Minister of Italy.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos was taking part in an extraordinary meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, also convened to review recent developments in the region.

“The Republic of Cyprus continues to highlight its stable, humanitarian role that it has always performed in the region, as it has done in previous regional crises,” Letymbiotis said.

Asked about the increased security measures taken on the island, he said these are “on the basis of protocols that have been activated since yesterday morning, at specific points, where it was judged they should be increased, as was the case in previous cases where there were regional crises”.

The Estia plan to evacuate people from regions of crisis via Cyprus has not been activated as no country has sent an official request, he said, although three have sounded the island out. “But we are taking all actions to be in operational readiness and as soon as this is possible we will be able to activate it,” he added.

He also repeated that no missiles were “aimed at our country” by Iranian forces as was confirmed during a phone call between Christodoulides and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

But, “we are taking all the measures that can be taken, we are doing exactly what we have to do to be able to ensure everything that needs to be ensured,” he said.

“What we know from our contacts with our international partners is that there was no such targeting of our country.”