Cyprus has exceeded its limits, needs practical help

Cyprus has exceeded its limits, is asking for practical assistance from the international community and especially the EU to handle the great humanitarian problems created with the mass exodus of foreign nationals arriving from Lebanon.

Deputy Minister to the President and Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashiardis pointed out that on Tuesday that “Cyprus does not need more credits and congratulations for the deed it has carried out so far alone and helpless, it needs practical and immediate contribution and assistance from all European countries”.

“Cyprus has not only reached its limits, it has surpassed them with the danger of not being able to bear the influx of foreign nationals from third countries”, he pointed out, noting that “the problem cannot solely concern Cyprus just because it neighbours the battlefront”.

Pashiardis remarked that the problem also concerns Europe and the international community which cannot distance itself from the obligation and responsibility towards thousands of people seeking refuge”.

The Spokesman said Cyprus will continue “until its limits are exhausted” to accept refugees and to offer every possible humanitarian assistance, anticipating however assistance promptly and practically and not late and merely verbally.

He reiterated that Cyprus has asked for an opening of borders of other European countries in the event refugees from third countries begin to pour in, as well as more planes to Cyprus to promptly transfer foreign nationals to their homelands so that there is no gap between arrivals and departures and the creation of crisis groups at every European country.

He said the government is in contact with the EU to have a proper appropriation of the burdens and responsibilities.

Pashiardis noted the issue is not financial at this time, “we are currently dealing with handling these great humanitarian problems, the rest will come later”.

He added that France is already using the ‘Andreas Papandreou’ military airbase and any other country can if it asks so to transport its nationals.