TFLE01: CYPRUS SITREP 29 AS OF 0800 LOCAL,

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 001256

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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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