Cyprus has activated its national “ESTIA” plan to facilitate the evacuation of European and third-country nationals as the conflict in the Middle East and the Gulf escalates.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos announced the move during an emergency meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Sunday, March 1. Kombos briefed his counterparts on a series of high-level contacts with regional leaders, expressing Nicosia’s “full support” for Gulf partners affected by recent military strikes.
Support for Gulf partners
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Cyprus “condemns the attacks” against Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Kombos stressed the urgent need for a diplomatic solution and called for all involved states to show restraint.
Stranded citizens and repatriation
The emergency council also addressed the widespread suspension of flights, which has left a large number of EU citizens, including Cypriots, stranded across the Middle East and the Gulf.
Kombos told the council that the safety and secure repatriation of EU citizens is a priority that requires coordinated action and a unified flow of information within the Union.
Cyprus confirmed it is ready to serve as a humanitarian hub for repatriations, as it has done in previous crises. The Ministry concluded that the government remains in close coordination with its partners to provide necessary humanitarian facilities.
