THE BRITISH Bases yesterday talked about their role in assisting with the evacuation of citizens of all nationalities from Lebanon.
In a news conference held at the Episkopi Garrison’s Officers’ Mess, the British High Commission issued statements on how they are dealing with the situation.
High Commissioner Peter Millett said: “Our priority is to fulfil our consular responsibility to British citizens in Lebanon. We want to thank the Cyprus government for their cooperation in a whole range of issues, such as the repatriation of citizens.”
He added that, “the planning process is at an advanced stage for any possible evacuation. The aim is to be flexible and responsive, with an ability to meet demand.”
Speaking in front of an audience made up mostly of members from the international and local media, the Commander of the British Forces in Cyprus, Air Vice Marshal Richard Lacy, said: “The British Forces have been assisting in the planning process and with a variety of options available to assist with the evacuation procedure. This is a multi-national effort and a multi-national response.”
When pressed on transportation and safe area options, he explained that, “due to operational security issues, I am unable to go into detail.”
On the rumours that high-ranking diplomats and politicians are being transported through the base areas during the current conflict, Bases spokesman Captain Crispin Coates explained: “Yes, some people, including EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, have been transited through the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA) as they are the quickest and most practical routes, especially at the moment, when a lot of air traffic movement is being seen.”
A local Greek Cypriot paper accused the Bases authorities of trying to monopolise the rescue operations, saying the British don’t want Cyprus’ ports, airports and air bases, such as the Andreas Papandreou military base in Paphos, to function as a focal point between Europe and the Middle East.
But government spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis denied that SBA authorities have been against their use, saying that there has been no objection.
The Foreign Ministry also announced yesterday that it had received official assurances that the UK had not asked for European ships carrying foreign citizens out of Beirut to call on ports in the north. Millett communicated the assurances to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Sotos Zakheos.
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