Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NICOSIA1253
2006-08-01 15:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

TFLE01: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS ON U.S.-ASSISTED

Tags:  AEMR CASC MARR PINS PREL CY LE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #1253/01 2131507
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 011507Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6564
INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 4703
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 4197
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 6353
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001253 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: AEMR CASC MARR PINS PREL CY LE
SUBJECT: TFLE01: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS ON U.S.-ASSISTED
ARRIVALS FROM LEBANON

REF: A. A) STATE 124163

B. B) NICOSIA 1208

Classified By: DCM JANE B. ZIMMERMAN; REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001253

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/02/2016
TAGS: AEMR CASC MARR PINS PREL CY LE
SUBJECT: TFLE01: GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS ON U.S.-ASSISTED
ARRIVALS FROM LEBANON

REF: A. A) STATE 124163

B. B) NICOSIA 1208

Classified By: DCM JANE B. ZIMMERMAN; REASON 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: DCM met with Homer Mavrommatis, MFA's
Consular Affairs Director, the Cyprus Police, and Civil
Defense on August 1 to discuss the status of U.S.-assisted
arrivals in Cyprus from Lebanon and post's plans to vacate
the Cyprus International Fairgrounds facility. Mavrommatis
reminded DCM that Lebanese who remained in Cyprus after the
last U.S.-chartered flight departed on August 2 would be
the responsibility of the U.S. government until their
departure from the island. He also promised police and
immigration support at the Fairgrounds on August 1, in an
effort to document and possibly extend temporary visas for
those who were not granted U.S. parole or able to board the
last U.S. chartered flight. Finally, the officials thanked
DCM for continued U.S. cooperation and for the supplies at
the Fairgrounds scheduled to be donated to Cypriot Civil
Defense o/a August 4. End summary.

--------------
Closing the Fairgrounds
--------------


2. (SBU) In an August 1 meeting with Homer Mavrommatis,
MFA's Consular Affairs Director, the Cyprus Police, and
Civil Defense Commissioner Christos Kyriakides, DCM said
that the U.S. Government had assisted the departure of
approximately 10,500 of the 13,600 people it had
transported to Cyprus from Lebanon. Of the remainder, the
Embassy had indications that many had pre-existing travel
arrangements or had chosen to fund their own travel to the
United States, the Middle East and/or Europe. Also among
the remainder were family members of U.S. citizens who had
applied for humanitarian parole into the United States --
most of whom were currently staying at the Fairgrounds. A
majority of these applications had been approved, but
Embassy believed that somewhere around 25-30 would be denied
(though U.S. immigration law does allow an appeals process).

Around four to five of the denials would likely involve
people with limited means.


3. (C) DCM explained that the last U.S.-chartered flight
would depart Cyprus at 0200L August 2. Decisions on
humanitarian parole should be given to remaining applicants
at the Fairgrounds on August 1. Embassy planned to
transport all of those approved for travel to the United
States to the airport late August 1, and afterwards would
conclude its operations at the Fairgrounds. Our lease there
would be terminated on Friday, August 4. For people who
were not granted parole into the United States, Embassy
would provide a list of budget hotels and travel agents, and
one last bus ride to central Nicosia and/or transportation
hubs. Embassy would also continue to provide consular
services to U.S. citizens who chose to remain with their
family members. DCM reiterated that many of these people
were already making alternative arrangements for return
travel to Lebanon or to other destinations where they had
family ties. Embassy had informed all of them that they
would not be allowed to remain in Cyprus. If some were to
end up staying, however, DCM told Mavrommatis that the USG
intended to reimburse the GOC for its costs in deporting
them, as per reftel A.


4. (SBU) Over the next few days, Embassy would continue
cleaning and preparing the Fairgrounds for hand over to the
GOC, tentatively scheduled for August 4. The USG would
donate the following supplies to the GOC: 36,000 MREs,
1,939 cots, 5,200 bottles of water, 1,153 health and
comfort kits, 2 portable shower units, 2,600 blankets, 7,000
sheets, 6,600 towels, and 4,500 pillows. DCM thanked the GOC
for its outstanding cooperation and overwhelming support and
donations from the Cypriot people.

-------------- --------------
Mavrommatis: Cypriot Immigration Will Document Those Who
Stay Behind
-------------- --------------



5. (C) Mavrommatis asked whether a majority of
non-U.S.-assisted arrivals were Lebanese, and reminded DCM
that those who remained in Cyprus after the last
U.S.-chartered flight departure were the responsibility of
the U.S. government until they left the island. He said it
would be good to keep all of them together (perhaps in the

same hotel),since their current immigration status in
Cyprus was irregular. The GOC would want to monitor their
status closely, since the UNHCR still considered arrivals
from Lebanon to be internally displaced. The GOC had to
date received six applications for asylum from Lebanese
(who arrived in Cyprus without U.S. assistance). DCM told
Mavrommatis that the UNHCR had visited the Fairgrounds and
that we welcomed their cooperation. She stressed that the
Embassy was no longer authorized to pay for hotels or
shelter, and that we lacked the authority to require people
to stay together. Mavrommatis agreed that the Cypriot Police
would work with RSO to coordinate August 1 visits to the
Fairgrounds by Cypriot police and immigration officials to
document those who will remain behind, and possibly to extend
their temporary visa status in Cyprus on a humanitarian
basis. He specifically requested a list of those who were
not granted parole and remained in Cyprus.


6. (SBU) Mavrommatis said the GOC is considering
implementing a special kind of passport departure stamp for
those arriving from Lebanon. The GOC has not yet been able
to implement this, and therefore did not have accurate
statistics on the number of Lebanese transiting the
island. The GOC has had very few inquiries from Lebanese
to the Welfare Services, and no indications of large
concentrations of Lebanese staying in particular areas.
The GOC felt that many Lebanese were dual nationals who had
left Cyprus by their own means. Similarly, if a future
wave of displaced persons were to arrive from Lebanon, the
GOC expected that many would again be dual nationals.
Still, the GOC was working on an over-arching plan to
accommodate future arrivals if the need should arise.


7. (C) Mavrommatis asked whether the United States had
returned any people to Lebanon by ship, to which DCM
responded negatively (though we had provided some transport
to Beirut for foreign government officials -- such as
consular officials). Finally, he asked whether we expected
future waves of U.S. citizens, to which DCM responded that
our Embassy in Beirut had estimated that the large majority
of those who wanted to leave had left. DCM explained that
the USG had ended contracts with civilian ships and that U.S.
naval ships were no longer assisting American citizens to
depart Lebanon. She pointed out that future arrivals were
expected to be in much smaller numbers via helicopter.
Mavrommatis thanked DCM and requested that we stay in touch
to provide advance notice of any new arrivals, particularly
of any wounded. The GOC very much valued our positive
cooperation on this matter.


8. (U) Mavrommatis agreed that a time for a handover
ceremony at the Fairgrounds on Friday, August 4, should be
set with Civil Defense, the Fairgrounds Director and the
Embassy and that he would confirm GOC participation
according to the Foreign Minister's schedule (though he
said the Minister of Interior would likely participate if
the Foreign Minister could not attend).

--------------
GOC Delighted with Donations
--------------


9. (U) Cypriot Civil Defense Commissioner Kyriakides asked
a series of logistical questions, including the largest
number accommodated at one time at the fairgrounds, the
precise number of cots being donated, and the location of
supplies. He thanked DCM for the valuable donation and said
that Cyprus very much needed it.
SCHLICHER