TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 15 AS OF 0900 LOCAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001190 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2016 TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO MGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 15 AS OF 0900 LOCAL, TUESDAY, JULY 25, 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 ¶L. NICOSIA 1183 ¶M. NICOSIA 1184 ¶N. NICOSIA 1186 ¶O. NICOSIA 1189 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D ¶1. (C) Summary: Total headcount of U.S. citizens received in Cyprus as of 0800L July 25 was 10,881. 7,690 had departed by 0800L on July 25, and civilian charter flights continue. At 0800L, there were 280 people at the Fairgrounds and 230 at hotels. Hotels should be completely vacated by 1200L. End summary. POL/MIL ¶2. (C) Foreign Minister Lillikas told Ambassador that the Government of Cyprus has issued a statement that it will not be held accountable for decisions made by the EU on behalf of Cyprus at the Lebanon Core Group in Rome; this is related to ROC maneuvering to be included in the Rome meeting, and time will tell if Lillikas's anger will have practical consequences for the departure effort. Cypriot Immigration Services are becoming stricter about proper visa documentation for arriving Lebanese nationals. CONSULAR ¶3. (C) The following are consular updates: --Accounting of U.S. citizens who have arrived in Cyprus as of 0800(L) July 25: 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 38 via helicopter July 23 529 via USS Nashville July 24 26 via helicopter July 24 574 via Orient Queen July 25 TOTAL: 10,881 --The Rahmah is now expected to arrive at 1300L July 25 with 154 U.S. citizens, and the Vittoria M at 1830L with approximately 331. Post expects to move all of these passengers directly to the Paphos airport. --A total of 7,690 U.S. citizens had departed Cyprus on U.S. charter and military flights as of 0800L July 24. Four more commercial charter flights are scheduled to depart on July ¶25. --We estimate there were approximately 280 evacuees (undocumented humanitarian cases and their relatives) at the Fairgrounds by 0800L. Approximately 230 remain in hotels, but all are expected to leave July 25. --DHS TDY staff are arriving today to assist CONS in speeding the screening of undocumented humanitarian cases. --MGT has thoroughly cleaned part of the Fairgrounds facility and plans to do a walk-through with the Cypriot government at 1830L. Post is taking care to ensure Fairgrounds are ready to hand over when necessary, while maintaining adequate resources on hand in cases of a new influx of American arrivals. --The local Cypriot company "Kanosis Ltd." has offered a free "registration service" through Google to families at the Fairgrounds. Fifty families have registered themselves--complete with photos--on the internet, in an effort to aid overseas relatives to locate them instantly through a Google search. MANAGEMENT ¶4. (U) Post is focusing on TDY staff schedules for mop-up operations and attempting to allow various sections to return to normal operations. We are also reassessing staffing and 24-hour coverage needs. Public Affairs is closing its Larnaca press center at night, and will forward all nighttime calls to the Nicosia Control Room. SCHLICHER