ENVIRONMENT Minister Photis Photiou and scientists from the Oceanographic Centre, yesterday said it was “unlikely for the time” that the oil spill caused by the Israeli bombing of Lebanon would reach Cyprus’ shores, noting that the Cypriot state services are on alert.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Photiou was speaking to reporters after being informed by the Oceanography Centre of the University of Cyprus.
After studying satellite images and other photographic material, the centre found Cyprus is not in any danger. Photiou noted that he did not undermine the scale of the ecological disaster of the Mediterranean, and for this reason he asked Commissioner for the Environment Stavros Demas to undertake an initiative for an action plan to handle the situation.
Photiou said that the amount of oil estimated to have spilled into the sea is around 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes, of which 79.9 per cent has reached the Lebanese shore, 20 per cent has evaporated and around one per cent remains in the sea area very close to the Lebanese coastline and does not threaten Cyprus due to south-west winds which are pushing the currents in a north direction. These meteorological patterns have been dominating the area for the past three weeks.
“The government has an action plan,” Photiou said, noting that yesterday he chaired a meeting of all parties involved in the event of such a danger.
He said “we can handle not such great cases but small to medium sized situations” and that the EU must take specific action.
Photiou said that the issue was expected to be raised during the urgent meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers yesterday in Brussels and Minister of Foreign Affairs George Lillikas was informed on the Cypriot initiative and decisions were expected to be taken.
“We are ready to help both the EU and the government of Lebanon in handling the situation,” Photiou added.
The Minister noted that even if the direction of winds changed, the oil spill would not affect Cyprus because the quantity is small and can be handled therefore it would pose no danger for the Cypriot shores.
Head of the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment George Georgiou assured that there is expert staff and the right equipment and material for use at any moment.
His department assured in a statement that “the Cyprus coast has not been affected by the oil spill in Lebanon and the sea around Cyprus is clean and has absolutely no pollution problems” and that “all the scientific data indicate, with a very high degree of confidence, that it is almost impossible that the sea area of Cyprus will be affected at all.”
It added that “nevertheless, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and other relevant authorities of the Republic of Cyprus are monitoring the situation and are ready to respond and to prevent any unlikely eventuality.”
The Department said the government of Cyprus is in contact with the EU and is ready to contribute towards the minimisation of the impact on the environment of Lebanon. (CNA)
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