TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 11 AS OF 1000 LOCAL, SUNDAY,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001183

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016
TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO CMGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT
SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 11 AS OF 1000 LOCAL, SUNDAY,
JULY 23, 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

I. NICOSIA 1179

J. NICOSIA 1180

K. NICOSIA 1182

Classified By: DCM Jane Zimmerman, reasons 1.4 B/D


1. (C) Summary: Total headcount of U.S. citizens received
in Cyprus as of 1000L July 23 was 9,711, and we anticipate
another 1,300 to arrive by 2300L. 3,782 had departed by
0700L, and we expect approximately another 1,400 to depart
July 23 by commercial charter and military flights.

POL/MIL


2. (C) The USS Trenton, carrying 1,300 U.S. citizens and
scheduled to arrive 2300L July 23, may possibly be diverted
to Turkey. It will be the last navy ship to transport U.S.
citizens. After that, DAO reports the Orient Queen will be
our primary asset. A second charter, the Vittoria M
(capacity 300) will also be available to transport people.
The Rahma has been plagued with mechanical problems.


3. (C) Foreign Minister Lillikas and Ambassador Schlicher
visited American arrivals at the Cyprus International
Fairgrounds at 1100L. Local press were expected to be there.

CONSULAR


4. (C) The following are consular updates:

--Accounting of U.S. citizens who have arrived in Cyprus as
of 1000(L) July 23:

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
241 via helicopter (BAB) July 21
1803 via USS Trenton July 22
27 via Greek Ikaria July 22
21 via MV Akioni July 22
1050 via USS Nashville July 22
815 via Ramah July 22
39 via helicopter 2108 July 22
1005 via USS Whidbey July 23
983 via Orient Queen July 23

TOTAL: 9,711

--A total of 3,782 U.S. citizens had departed Cyprus on U.S.
charter and military flights as of 0700L July 23. There are
four milair flights and four commercial charter flights
scheduled to depart today, which will transport approximately
1,400 more citizens.

MANAGEMENT


5. (U) There are approximately 1,500 people at the Cyprus
International Fairgrounds now. We are transferring
passengers from the Orient Queen there now; we are also
scheduling 15 buses throughout the day to transport outgoing
passengers to the airport. We are investigating the
possibility of moving new arrivals into Larnaca hotels as
rooms become available. The Fairgrounds may shelter up to
3,000 people during a mid-afternoon overlap of arrivals and
departures. We are working well with the Fairgrounds staff
to expand the dining area and keep amenities as clean as
possible.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS


6. (U) PA has facilitated many positive interviews with
Ambassador and others (e.g. ships' captains) and reports good
coverage in general.

SECURITY


7. (C) TSA agents are on the ground at Larnaca airport; they
report that traffic will be particularly heavy July 23, as
Sundays and Wednesdays are busy days for tourist charters.
Civil Aviation estimates that 14,000 tourists will transit
Larnaca airport today in addition to evacuees.
SCHLICHER