Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in April 2024 in Beirut. (Credit: Anwar Amro/AFP)
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides told Bloomberg that his country was ready to "evacuate European or country citizens" from the island "if necessary," referring to the scenario of an escalating security situation in the Middle East in the wake of the war in Gaza, clashes in southern Lebanon and rising tensions between Iran and Israel.
"Some countries moved their diplomatic staff from Lebanon to Cyprus" and the Cypriot government had received so far "requests from more than 10 countries" to use the island as an evacuation point for their nationals, he added.
In an interview with the Bloomberg channel, Christodoulides said that his country was contributing to diplomatic efforts led by other countries in the region, including Jordan and Egypt, to prevent escalation. He also called on "all parties involved" to practice restrain.
He also reassured that Nicosia was "ready" to activate "the evacuation plan in place," drawing a parallel with the measures taken during the July 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel. The two sides have exchanged near-daily fire and strikes since Oct. 8, 2023, the day after the outbreak of war in Gaza.
"I hope that we will have positive news, and there will be no need for evacuations. But in case there is need, we are ready," insisted Christodoulides.
Hezbollah's threats to Cyprus
Answering a question about Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah's earlier threats to Cyprus should the island's government decide to allow Israel to use its airports and bases to target Lebanon, the Cypriot president said he doesn't think this kind of rhetoric can "solve the problem" at the heart of current tensions. Additionally, he pointed out that Cyprus was particularly exposed to these tensions, being located "25 minutes flight from Lebanon" and "40 minutes flight from Israel."
Turkey's Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, said at the time that Cyprus was becoming a "center of operations" in the Gaza war.
Cyprus and Turkey
Mr. Christodoulides also addressed the question of the island's reunification, pointing out that he was working with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations to bring Turkey back to the negotiating table. He added that the two-state solution advocated by Ankara was "not on the table." "It's not the position of the Republic of Cyprus or the Greek Cypriots," he said, asserting that it was also the position of the international community. He also argued that the eastern Mediterranean could serve as an "alternative" to guarantee the EU's energy independence.
