TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 29 AS OF 0800 LOCAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001256 SIPDIS SIPDIS PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/03/2016 TAGS: AEMR ASEC KPAO MGT LE CY KFLO CASC AMGT SUBJECT: TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 29 AS OF 0800 LOCAL, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2006 REF: NICOSIA 1252 Classified By: Ambassador Ronald L. Schlicher, reasons 1.4 B/D ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy Nicosia emptied the Cyprus International Fairgrounds facility of U.S.-assisted arrivals from Lebanon on August 1, and the last U.S.-chartered flight departed on August 2 at 0345L with 170 people. As the local Sigma Television station filmed, embassy buses drove away from the Fairgrounds with 96 people who were transported to local budget hotels for the night of August 1-2. Cypriot immigration officials were also on hand to document those who did not depart Cyprus. Approximately 25 of these people (U.S. citizens and family members) eventually ended up choosing to spend the night in front of Embassy Nicosia in protest of their parole denials; by 1145L the number had grown to 30-40. As of 0100L August 2, there were 69 pending or denied parole cases. A final headcount of U.S.-assisted arrivals was 13,548 and total U.S.-assisted departures was 10,736. Approximately 25 additional U.S.-assisted arrivals are expected to arrive on August 2 on the helicopter from Beirut. End summary. POL/MIL ¶2. (U) The following are pol/mil updates: --Embassy Nicosia is conveying the "thank you" letter forwarded from President Bush to President Papadopoulos. --The MFA has not yet determined its preferences for the hand-over ceremony for the material at the Fairgrounds tentatively set for August 4. CONSULAR ¶3. (SBU) The following are consular updates: --Nicosia Control Room's total headcount of U.S.-assisted arrivals (includes U.S. citizens, LPRs and third-country nationals) in Cyprus as of 0800(L) August 2: 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 24 772 via Orient Queen July 24 3 via Princessa Marissa July 25 5 via helicopter July 25 7 via helicopter July 25 152 via Ramah July 25 36 via helicopter July 25 281 via Vittoria M July 25 338 via Orient Queen July 26 (estimated) 7 via French military helicopter July 26 4 via IREA Petra July 26 331 via Vittoria M July 26 3 via helicopter July 26 324 via Princessa Marissa July 27 557 via Orient Queen July 27 7 via UN Serenade July 27 20 via French military ship Sirocco July 27 5 via helicopter July 27 2 via helicopter July 28 295 via Orient Queen July 29 3 via French ship Mistral July 29 14 via helicopter July 31 TOTAL ARRIVALS: 13,548 --The total number of U.S.-assisted departures from Cyprus was 10,736 (includes last U.S.-chartered flight on August 2 at 0345 with 170 people). --Local Sigma Television station filmed a dramatic scene at the Fairgrounds on August 1 as the last bus to the airport was loaded with U.S. citizens saying goodbye to family members who stayed behind. After the bus's departure, people were calmer than expected, and another bus transported the remaining 96 people to local budget hotels for the night. Cypriot immigration officials were on hand to document those who did not depart Cyprus. Approximately 25 of these people (U.S. citizens and family members) eventually ended up choosing to spend the night in front of Embassy Nicosia in protest of their parole denials. By 1145L, the number had grown to 30-40 at the Embassy's north gate. --DHS continued to issue parole letters until the last buses departed the Fairgrounds late August 1. CONS is working on August 2 to update the tally of pending and denied parole applications (69 cases as of 0100L August 2),but this total will continue to change as decisions are appealed and/or overturned. New applicants for parole may also appear. --CONS issued small subsistence loans to no more than 20 U.S. citizens at the Fairgrounds on August 1. They are continuing to provide services to remaining ACS cases and are making progress on their backlog of Cypriot visa applications. --Any future U.S.-assisted arrivals from Lebanon will be coordinated through DAO and CONS; the Nicosia control room will close operations at COB local time August 2. MANAGEMENT ¶4. (U) Management is working August 2 to finish cleaning the Fairgrounds and prepare thank you letters to all who donated or volunteered time at the facility. COMMENT ¶5. (C) As the situation in Lebanon continues, Embassy Nicosia is evaluating the support and resources it may need to provide to Embassy Beirut. We are also documenting "lessons learned" in case of a future wave(s) of U.S.-assisted arrivals, and are continuing to review our own security posture. The situation of U.S. humanitarian parole applicants in Cyprus remains a concern, and as such we will continue frequent contact with GOC consular and immigration officials to ensure smooth cooperation. SCHLICHER