VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #1172/01 2001627
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 191627Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6476
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4149
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY

S E C R E T NICOSIA 001172 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO USAID 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016 
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 04 AS OF 1800 LOCAL, 
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2006 
 
REF: A. NICOSIA 1166 
     ¶B. NICOSIA 1167 
     ¶C. NICOSIA 1170 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D 
 
¶1.  (S)  Summary:  Preparations continue to accommodate 
thousands over the next few days.  Total headcount of U.S. 
citizens received as of 1800L is 467. 
 
POL/MIL 
 
¶2. (S)  The following are pol/mil updates: 
 
--USAF Europe is sending 20 medics and three medical doctors 
to Cyprus, arrival late July 20. 
 
--DAO noted that Larnaca port may be reaching berthing 
capacity, and ships may be diverted to Limassol. 
 
--DCM attended MFA meeting today in which Government of 
Cyprus (GOC) indicated that all/all ship arrivals delivering 
foreign citizens from Lebanon and all assisted departures 
must arrive south of the Green Line.  Also, countries will be 
responsible for TCNs and indigent individuals arriving via 
their countries' transport.  GOC has established its own task 
force in Larnaca at the following numbers: (357) 99-558-896 
or (357) 99-201-780. GOC is also requesting help with the 
evacuation of 100 more of its citizens from Beirut. 
 
CONSULAR 
 
¶3. (S)  The following are consular updates: 
 
--The following ships are expected to dock in Cyprus in the 
next 24 hours: 
  MV Orient Queen (1011 passengers, majority U.S. citizens - 
departed Beirut 1610L) 
  HMS York (possibly carrying a handful of U.S. citizens) 
  Jean de Vienne (possibly carrying U.S. citizens) 
 
--The following is an accounting of U.S. citizens who have 
arrived in Cyprus: 
  11 via helicopter July 16 
  53 via helicopter July 17 
  9 via ship July 17 
  37 via French-chartered ship July 18 
  104 via helicopter July 18 
  138 via Hoegh Norwegian ship July 19 
  4 via Greek military ship July 19 
  121 via helicopter (BAB) July 19 
  TOTAL: 467 (as of 1800L, Nicosia control room) 
 
--USS Nashville is expected to begin transporting up to 1200 
U.S. citizens July 20; the Iwo Jima will also be arriving and 
carries Chinook helicopters; by July 22 will be able to 
significantly increase number of Americans transported. 
 
--The Beirut Air Bridge (BAB) continues to operate. 
 
--First charter flight from Cyprus to Manchester departed 
this evening at 1850.  There will be three planes to CONUS 
July 20 with a combined capacity of 752.  Should expect a 
surge of people requesting spots on charter flights as 
availability becomes known. 
 
--Embassy has currently identified approximately 800 beds 
scattered island-wide; 325 of these are available beginning 
late July 19 at the Cyprus International Fairgrounds.  Post 
is working to expand the number of available beds at the 
Fairgrounds. 
 
--Post notes the importance of maintaining adequate consular 
officers on the ground in Nicosia as U.S. citizens flow in 
large waves from Beirut to Cyprus. 
 
--As full USG capacity to move U.S. citizens out of Lebanon 
is reached, all addressees should keep in mind Cyprus's 
limited ability to accommodate our maximum potential daily 
numbers.  Nicosia will keep addressees apprised of when we 
will reach maximum capacity; excess numbers of evacuees will 
need to go to other locales to avoid a process overload. 
 
MANAGEMENT 
 
¶4.  (U)  The following are management updates: 
 
--328 cots are now set up at the Cyprus International 
Fairgrounds.  Facilities include: air conditioning, 
 
bathrooms, showers nearby and shuttles provided to showers; 
300 donated towels, soap and shampoo.  Buses have been 
arranged for transport from the Larnaca seaport to the 
Fairgrounds in Nicosia. 
 
--MGT has contracted with a military husbanding agent to find 
hotel rooms for private U.S. citizens. 
 
--Larnaca control room is now fully staffed 24/7; Limassol 
control room is staffed by two people, but not 24 hours. 
 
--MGT has identified a volunteer coordinator who will work 
with local Rotary and volunteers to assist at Fairgrounds. 
 
SECURITY 
 
¶5.  (S)  The following are security updates: 
 
--Regional Security Office (RSO) has perimeter security is in 
place at the Fairgrounds but ID system for evacuees need to 
be designed.  Press have already tried to enter the 
Fairgrounds claiming they were evacuees. 
 
--US marshals and supervisors are due to arrive on the first 
charter flight and will maintain a presence on all charter 
flights to CONUS. 
 
--DEA reported that it is in touch with Legatt at Embassy 
Athens regarding monitoring flight manifests for U.S. 
citizens on watchlists. 
 
REGIONAL AFFAIRS 
 
¶6.  (S)  RA expects three TDY staff arriving July 20. 
 
PUBLIC AFFAIRS 
 
¶7.  (U)  The press control room in Larnaca is now fielding 
nearly all press calls. 
 
ECON 
 
¶8.  (U)  The following are updates from the economic section: 
 
 
--The Cyprus Tourism Office (CTO) has established a help desk 
at the airport. 
 
--Middle Eastern Airlines (MEA) has requested permission to 
conduct its flights out of Cyprus.  This could take much 
pressure off of Cyprus Airways to transfer tickets. 
 
--Cyprus Airways will increase the number of its ticketing 
agents at the airport as of July 20. 
 
--Embassy Nicosia has identified eight potential ships for 
hire; all are requesting whether we are still interested.  At 
least one airline has expressed an interest in operating 
increased flights from Cyprus to Europe.  Embassy will 
continue to pass this information back to the Taskforce for 
appropriate action. 
 
 
 
SCHLICHER