The team of the Department of Forests, which had assisted in dealing with the recent forest fires in Greece, returned on Tuesday afternoon to Cyprus. Two members of the team in statements to the Press upon return, said they were proud because they were able to offer their help in fighting the raging fires in Greece, while the Government officials thanked the crew and support staff, describing their contribution as particularly important and decisive. Andreas Gregoriou, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, welcomed at Larnaca airport "on behalf of the state, the members of the mission of the two firefighting aircrafts, which took part in the efforts to deal with the fires in Attica. The crew of the two Air Tractor type airplanes of the Forestry Department comprised 4 people and 7 support staff and worked for about 10 days taking part in patrols and efforts to extinguish the fires'. We consider, Gregoriou went on to say, "that their participation was particularly important and decisive and on behalf of the state we thank the participants. We are sure that with the experience they have gained they will be able to respond - if ever needed - in Cyprus as well". Furthermore, Kostas Hadjipanayiotou, Director General of the General Directorate of the Environment, addressed a "warm welcome to our mission on behalf of the state". On his part, Charalambos Alexandrou, Director of the Forest Department, said that despite the prolonged heatwave and the fact the two planes were necessary for our own operations, without a second thought we sent them to help in the efforts to fight the fires in Greece, expressing solidarity.
Source: Cyprus News Agency