TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 17 AS OF 0800 LOCA,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001195 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2106 TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO MGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 17 AS OF 0800 LOCA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 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 ¶P. NICOSIA 1190 ¶Q. NICOSIA 1192 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 26 was 11,635. 9,664 had departed by 0800L on July 26, and one more commercial charter flight is scheduled to depart July 26. 200 people spent the night at the Fairgrounds, and 400 were there as of 0800L July 26. End summary. CONSULAR ¶2. (C) The following are consular updates: --Accounting of U.S. citizens who have arrived in Cyprus as of 800(L) July 26: 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 23 401 via USS Nashville July 24 26 via helicopter July 24 574 via Orient Queen July 24 3 via Princess Marissa July 25 5 via helicopter July 25 7 via helicopter July 25 129 via Ramah July 25 36 via helicopter July 25 281 via Vittoria M July 25 198 via Orient Queen TOTAL: 11,417 --There were a total of 9,664 U.S.-assisted departures from Cyprus on U.S. charter flights as of 800L July 26. Post expects the arrival of one more ship July 26, and two more per day July 27 and July 28. Likewise, two charter departures per day are scheduled for July 26 and 27. --Approximately 200 people (undocumented humanitarian cases and their relatives) spent the night at the Fairgrounds; by 800L, undocumented passengers from the Orient Queen brought this number to around 400. --Fairgrounds now has 24-hour CONS staffing coverage. MANAGEMENT ¶3. (U) MGT continues to focus on staffing issues and transitioning out of the Fairgrounds. New arrivals will be booked into hotels as soon as possible. SECURITY ¶4. (C) Regional Security Office (RSO) has expanded security perimeter around the Fairgrounds, after five agitators, posing as Cypriot volunteers but believed to be Libyan nationals, nearly instigated a breakdown of order. RSO and our consul removed the agitators and were able to calm the crowd down. ¶5. (C) The increasing number of Class 1 hits indicates that individuals convicted of serious crimes, including rape, are among those sheltered at the Fairgrounds. We are working to shelter the most vulnerable (e.g., women with young children, some of whom have been at the Fairgrounds for five days) in hotels, while removing those who may pose a threat to others in separate hotels. Under our plan, once a case is adjudicated, individuals will leave hotels, with those favorably adjudicated traveling to the United States. CONS and MGT are coordinating closely on this plan. SCHLICHER