Nicosia: China and Japan have sought Nicosia's assistance for the potential evacuation of their citizens through Cyprus, in response to the escalating tensions following recent attacks on Iran.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a meeting was set for Sunday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assess the number of Cypriot nationals, both permanent residents and tourists, currently located in the affected regions. President Nikos Christodoulides disclosed these developments during a media briefing on Sunday.
President Christodoulides mentioned that he had discussions on Saturday night with key international figures including the President of the European Commission, the Greek Prime Minister, and the President of the United Arab Emirates. He also planned further conversations with several EU leaders and regional counterparts. An extraordinary EU Council of Foreign Ministers was scheduled for the afternoon to address the unfolding situation.
President Christodoulides emphasized Cyprus' pivotal role in facilitating the evacuation of foreign nationals, a role that continues to receive international acknowledgment. In response to inquiries, he affirmed that flight cancellations were essential due to the prevailing instability, and noted that there were also requests for commercial aircraft parking on the island.
He assured that Cyprus remains committed to its humanitarian responsibilities, consistently recognized on the global stage. A separate meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also planned, involving heads of Cyprus' diplomatic missions, to ascertain the exact number of Cypriot nationals in the region.
The President reiterated the government's call for Cypriots in the affected countries to contact local diplomatic missions. While they have data on Cypriot permanent residents, the meeting aimed to account for any tourists who might be affected, with a comprehensive report expected by the afternoon.