Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said on Saturday that the British Prime Minister had informed him that British bases in Cyprus were not used and would not be used in military operations in the region.
Speaking to reporters as he arrived at a Movement of Ecologists–Citizens’ Cooperation movement event, Christodoulides said Cyprus was closely monitoring developments and was in contact with neighbouring states, the European Union, the United States and Britain.
“The Foreign Minister has spoken with almost all of his counterparts. For my part, on the initiative of the British Prime Minister, I received a message from him informing me that the British bases have not been used and will not be used for this particular action,” he said.
Christodoulides said Cyprus has activated the ESTIA plan but had received no requests for assistance so far. The only requests received were from airlines seeking to park aircraft at Cypriot airports, to which Cyprus had responded positively, he added.
He said diplomatic missions were on standby to assist Cypriot nationals in the region when conditions allowed. “At this moment, as you understand, airports are closed for obvious reasons, as they have also come under attack,” he said.
The president said the National Security Council had met earlier in the day and that he was in constant communication with the ministers of foreign affairs, defence and justice, as well as the NSC chief.
“We hope that conditions for de-escalation will be created soon. Cyprus will do whatever it can within its capabilities and always within its humanitarian approach to help address this crisis,” he said.
Asked whether Cyprus, in its capacity as holder of the EU Council presidency, would drive a coordination initiative at European level, Christodoulides said such matters fell within the remit of the EU High Representative, with whom the Foreign Minister was in continuous contact.
He noted that the President of the Commission and the President of the Council had already issued a joint statement on behalf of the EU.
(information from CNA)
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