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Today, I reconvened the
Ministerial Crisis Management Team (Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence,
Interior, Justice and Public Order), following the completion of civilian
evacuation flights from Sudan. We have decided that the Special National Plan
"ESTIA", which was activated on 25 April following requests from
the authorities of friendly countries, has now been completed.
In total, 2611 citizens from 29
different countries were evacuated through Cyprus, escaping the conflict in
Sudan. In such circumstances, close cooperation is key for the effective
response of the international community. In this respect, the Republic of
Cyprus is a factor of regional stability and a safe harbour. This has been
reaffirmed in the last days.
To this end, the cooperation
with the staff of Diplomatic Missions of countries whose citizens travelled
to Cyprus, has been exemplary.
I would like to express the
heartfelt gratitude of the Government of Cyprus to all the government
services, which cooperated harmoniously during the operations. I wish to
thank their staff who has worked tirelessly and selflessly, day and night for
the last eleven days, so that the evacuation operations can be carried out in
a timely and efficient manner.
I would also like to make a
particular reference to the professionalism and dedication of the officials
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who, under the guidance of the National
Crisis Management Team, were present at the Coordination Centre “ZENON” in
Larnaka, while working in close cooperation with the staff of our Diplomatic
Missions in Cairo and Amman.
The successful implementation
of the “ESTIA” Plan would certainly not have been possible without the
continuous efforts of all the volunteers, the men and women of the Cyprus Red
Cross as well as those working in cooperation with the members of the Cyprus
Civil Defence. I thank them sincerely for their wholehearted and unreserved
support.
Cyprus remains committed to
reinforce, in any way possible, the efforts of the international community to
address the humanitarian situation in Sudan, while at the same time
supporting efforts aiming towards a successful mediation between the two
parties to reach a political solution as soon as possible.
(MF/MV)
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