CYPRUS has offered the use of its ports and airports as transit for an expanded UN force in Lebanon, the government said yesterday.
Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis told reporters that the Foreign Ministry had sent a letter to the United Nations and to the European Union, offering to act as a transit point both for humanitarian aid and for the movement of troops.
In the first weeks after hostilities broke out, Cyprus became the main hub for the evacuation of EU, Canadian, American and Australian dual nationals.
Some 55,000 evacuees have passed through the island since July 13.
Cyprus has also become the main transit point for the movement of humanitarian aid to Lebanon.
“Cyprus is placing itself at the disposal of the EU and the UN for the transfer of humanitarian aid to Lebanon, as well as for the movement of members and equipment of the UN peacekeeping force in the area,” Pashardis said.
The UN hopes to expand its peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, from the current 2,000 to a total of 15,000.
Pashardis said Cyprus was also offering to send two National Guard officers to participate in the expanded force in Lebanon.
He said that although the government had not yet received a response to its offer to act as a transit point for troops, there was no reason the answer would be negative.
“I believe that the EU will respond positively,” he said.
Foreign Minister George Lillikas is due to travel to Beirut on August 24 in response to an invitation from Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.
France is expected to lead the expanded peacekeeping force, and speculation has been rife about troop transit through Cyprus, with the two countries involved in discussions on a military co-operation agreement, which would include the use of the Paphos air base.
Initial numbers talked about 5,000 French troops, but yesterday reports from Paris said France might only supply a symbolic force of around 200.
Quoting UN and diplomatic sources, Le Monde said France was considering sending just 12 officers and around 200 personnel from an engineering division. French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said on Wednesday that France was willing to lead the UN force until at least February, so long as it was given a clear mandate.
Big troop offers of between 1,000 and 5,000 have come in from Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Morocco and Italy, while countries who have committed to around 200 troops each include Brunei and Finland, and Spain has proposed around 700.
