TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 08 AS OF 1800 LOCAL, FRIDAY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001179

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS TO USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 08 AS OF 1800 LOCAL, FRIDAY,
JULY 21, 2006

REF: A. NICOSIA 1166

B. NICOSIA 1167

C. NICOSIA 1170

D. NICOSIA 1172

E. NICOSIA 1174

F. NICOSIA 1175

G. NICOSIA 1176

H. NICOSIA 1177

Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: Airlift capacity remains our biggest
strategic concern as the intake of evacuees continues to
outpace our ability to transport them to onward destinations.
Total headcount of U.S. citizens received in Cyprus as of
1800L was 3,822, and we anticipate another 3803 to arrive in
the next 24 hours.

POL/MIL


2. (U) The following are pol/mil updates.

--MGT met with Cyprus Civil Aviation about using Paphos
airport as a primary transit point for people boarding U.S.
chartered flights. Civil Aviation readily agreed that this
would greatly ease operations at the Larnaca port and airport.

--With the diversion of the next three ship arrivals to
Limassol, CONS, DAO and MGT are working to shift the bulk of
these arrivals directly to the Paphos airport or to hotel
accommodation in the Limassol/Paphos area.

CONSULAR


3. (C) The following are consular updates:

--Accounting of U.S. citizens who have arrived in Cyprus:
11 via helicopter July 16
62 via helicopter and 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
160 via helicopter (Beirut Air Bridge - BAB) July 19
3 via HMS York July 19
3 via Crete II July 19
1054 via MV Orient Queen July 20
3 via HMS Gloucester July 20
27 via UN Serenade & IREA Petra July 20
187 via helicopter (BAB) July 20
100 via UN ship Serenade July 21
1054 via USS Nashville July 21
790 via Orient Queen July 21
95 via helicopter (BAB) July 21

TOTAL: 3822 (as of 1800L, Nicosia control room)

--1,803 more U.S. citizens are expected to arrive July 22 at
0030L in Limassol on the USS Trenton. 1,000 are scheduled to
arrive July 22 at 0600 in Limassol on the second run of the
USS Nashville. Another 1,000 are scheduled to arrive July 22
at 2300 in Limassol on the Orient Queen.

--A total of 1031 U.S. citizens had departed on U.S. charter
flights as of 1145 July 21. 1025 are expected to depart July
21 evening, and 1350 on July 22 (however we are actively
seeking to add aircraft).

--DCM had townhall with U.S. citizens at Cyprus International
Fairgrounds in Town Hall Meeting at 1800L. Although the
embassy is moving rapidly to increase capacity at the
Fairgrounds, evacuees' nerves are frayed and post personnel
are working hard to maintain morale among U.S. citizens there.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS


4. (U) Ambassador gave press interviews at 1730 at the
Paphos airport and spoke with U.S. citizens in the terminal.
More press interviews are scheduled for July 22 at 1200L in
Larnaca.
SCHLICHER