Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NICOSIA262
2009-04-14 07:47:00
SECRET
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:
CYPRUS: PRESIDENT APPROVES TRANSIT OF SOMALI
how-toVZCZCXRO8985 RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV DE RUEHNC #0262 1040747 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 140747Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9788 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1425 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
S E C R E T NICOSIA 000262
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR, AF, SCA, S/CT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/13/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS PTER KCRM CY TU
SUBJECT: CYPRUS: PRESIDENT APPROVES TRANSIT OF SOMALI
HIJACKER
REF: EMBASSY ATHENS LEGATT-EMBASSY NICOSIA DAO EMAIL
OF 4/13/09
Classified By: AMBASSADOR FRANK C. URBANCIC, REASONS 1.4 (b),(d)
(S) Post on April 13 received ref email from Embassy Athens
Legatt alerting us that the FBI intended to dispatch an
aircraft to collect and return to the United States the lone
surviving Somali gunman from the recent Maersk Alabama
hijacking; the airplane will stop in Cyprus on both outbound
and inbound legs. In parallel to DAO preparing a standard
aircraft clearance request, Ambassador immediately informed
RoC Diplomatic Coordinator Leonidas Pantelides of the
upcoming U.S. mission. Pantelides returned the Ambassador's
call a short time later. He had discussed the operation with
President Demetris Christofias, who gave final approval. In
doing so, Christofias had assured Pantelides (apparently
intending that the message would get back to the Embassy)
that the RoC backed all efforts to combat Somali piracy,
since its huge merchant fleet left Cyprus susceptible to
seaborne criminality. The international community could
count on continued Cypriot support, Christofias had added.
Urbancic