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 PLEASE PASS TO USAID 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