The role of the United Arab Emirates in activating the “Amalthea” initiative has been “crucial” Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday. At the same time, he stressed that the government’s actions to deal with migratory influxes are focused in preparing a package, in coordination with the EU, for Lebanon, similar to that of Egypt.
Letymbiotis was speaking during a regular press briefing at the Presidential Palace.
The Government Spokesperson said that the Minister of State for International Cooperation of the UAE Reem Al Hashemi visited Cyprus on Monday, in the context of a bilateral contacts to review the next steps in the implementation of the “Amalthea” maritime humanitarian corridor.
He noted that the UAE role in activating “Amalthea” was crucial and that during a meeting yesterday with the Deputy Minister on European Affairs Marilena Raouna the strategic character of relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Cyprus, which is also reflected in the synergies
which made possible the implementation of “Amalthea”, was reconfirmed.
“The most recent developments after the tragic incident during which seven employees of WCK lost their lives were reviewed. The incident was condemned once more, it was reconfirmed that practical measures and safeguards must be undertaken to guarantee the safety of workers, as well as that the continuation of the initiative to relieve the civilian population of Gaza is imperative,” Letymbiotis said.
He added that the discussion focused also on ways of supporting the Amalthea Fund, aiming to enhance the sustainability of the maritime humanitarian corridor but also to structure the flow of the transported aid, noting that the Government will be in coordination with the UAE for the next operational steps.
The Government Spokesperson added that the infrastructure the USA are constructing in Gaza is being built, which will “significantly boost the increase in the flow of humanitarian help which the civilian population in Gaza, who remain und
er blockade, need.”
Replying to a question about the migration crisis Letymbiotis said that “the government’s actions to deal with increased migratory influxes are at the moment focused mainly in coordinating with the EU.”
He further reiterated what President Nikos Christodoulides has said that the government is working towards an EU package similar to that of Egypt for Lebanon, so that the country will be able to deal with migratory influxes.
In this framework, Letymbiotis said, the government’s efforts to classify certain regions in Syria as safe will continue. He added that to that effect the Minister of Interior Konstantinos Ioannou will visit Denmark on Wednesday, Czechia on Thursday and on Friday he will have a meeting with the relevant Deputy Minister in Greece.
Invited to give the government’s position in relation to reports that “there is a genocide of Palestinians by Israel,” the Government Spokesperson reiterated the need for political dialogue to resume in order to permanently resolve the matt
er on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions.
We have repeatedly said, he noted, that “killing civilians is in conflict with all Security Council resolutions and international humanitarian law.” “We are one of the countries which right now continues to have excellent relations with all countries in the region and it is this role we will continue to make the most of in order to contribute as much as possible in the end of conflicts in the region,” he added.
Asked how the situation in Cyprus will change in relation to the migration issue after the President’s visit to Lebanon, Letymbiotis said that the situation should be viewed objectively.
In the last year, he noted, the figures around the migration issue have greatly changed. He recalled that with the exception of recent weeks when there has been an increase of migratory flows arriving in Cyprus exclusively by sea, the migration issue “has been dealt with very effectively.”
Referring to the President’s visit to Lebanon on Monday, he said that he ha
d a very constructive meeting adding that President Christodoulides conveyed his thoughts on how Lebanon’s capability in curbing migratory flows can be enhanced, following his meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
In the coming days, Letymbiotis pointed out, we will see how these actions which have been agreed upon, are implemented and the government will be in regular contact with the EU so that there can be an outcome.
“We believe that Lebanon should be supported, that this support should be enhanced, as was the case with Egypt,” he said, adding that it is a country from where there have been zero migratory flows despite the large number of irregular immigrants it has. We would like to see the same model followed in Lebanon, he noted.
Source: Cyprus News Agency