Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NICOSIA1166
2006-07-18 11:16:00
SECRET
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

TFLE01 SITREP: EMBASSY NICOSIA SUPPORT FOR

Tags:  AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #1166 1991116
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 181116Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6469
INFO RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4143
S E C R E T NICOSIA 001166 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR BEIRUT TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01 SITREP: EMBASSY NICOSIA SUPPORT FOR
LEBANON, JULY 18, 2006, 1445

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).

S E C R E T NICOSIA 001166

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR BEIRUT TASK FORCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01 SITREP: EMBASSY NICOSIA SUPPORT FOR
LEBANON, JULY 18, 2006, 1445

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4
(B) and (D).


1. (S) Combined Task Force (CTF) Brigadier General Jensen
advised post at 1430 that Akrotiri air base cannot be used
for the NEO's Beirut air bridge (BAB) after July 18. Embassy
Nicosia is working with the CTF to relocate the BAB to either
Larnaca International Airport or Paphos International Airport
for continued operations July 19.


2. (SBU) MV Orient Queen (capacity 800) left Larnaca for
Beirut on July 18 at 11:25 local time carrying 184 passengers
including: 158 Lebanese, 1 U.S. citizen, 3 Belgians, 3
Brazilians, 6 Canadians, 1 Colombian, 1 Ethiopian, 1 French,
2 Japanese, 5 Palestinians, 1 Romanian, 1 Syrian, and 1
Swiss. Crew manifest is forthcoming but preliminary estimate
is 170, including 67 Lebanese.


3. (S) Government of Cyprus (GOC) requests that Embassy
Beirut contact Cypriot CDA in Beirut, Kyriacos Konos, at
357-99-212-427 regarding possibility of Cypriot nationals
boarding the Orient Queen upon its arrival in Beirut.


4. (S) GOC has indicated that it may request U.S. help in
facilitating departure from Cyprus of potential asylum
seekers who were among those who disembarked the Orient Queen
July 18; more information to follow.


5. (SBU) Embassy Nicosia has received a total of 110 U.S.
citizens from Lebanon, including 11 who arrived via
helicopter on July 16; 53 who arrived on July 17; 9 who
arrived via ship on July 17 (7 on the MV Orient Queen); and
37 who arrived via ship on July 18. Embassy Nicosia
facilitated the departure from Cyprus of approximately 36
U.S. citizens on July 18.


6. (U) Embassy Nicosia has established three control rooms:
Embassy Nicosia Task Force (357) 22-393-366; Larnaca control
room at the Palm Beach Hotel (357) 24-815-352 or (357)
24-815-374; Limassol control room (357) 25-828-087 or (357)
25-828-092. Embassy officers are also currently dispatched
to the Larnaca airport and the Larnaca seaport. Currently 39
TDY personnel on the ground or en route to Nicosia.


7. (U) Embassy Public Affairs Section is liaising between
press and U.S. citizens arriving from Lebanon; four U.S.
citizens planned to be interviewed on Good Morning America at
1400 local time. CTF Commander General Jensen was also
scheduled to be interviewed at 1300 local time.


8. (S) 132 more U.S. citizens are expected July 18 via
helicopter arriving Akrotiri airbase 1400-1500,and 400 are
expected via ship July 18 evening.


9. (SBU) Nicosia Task Force is now developing through-put
strategy for up to 2,000 arrivals per day of U.S. citizens
from Lebanon.


10. (U) Larnaca airport is increasingly busy. Embassy ECON
section is maintaining contact with GOC officials and
airlines in an effort to smooth re-routing of reservations.
We are exploring the option of using Paphos International
Airport as well.


11. (U) Please inform Embassy Nicosia of additional parties
wishing to receive these sitreps at NCSTaskforce@state.gov.
SCHLICHER