‘Decisions will be taken to secure interests of Cyprus’ (update 4)

The situation in Israel is “very difficult”, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday following a snap meeting of the National Security Council but stressed the island is not involved in any attacks.

Speaking after the meeting, which lasted shortly over an hour, he expressed the hope that “there would be no further aggravation which would not be in anyone’s interest.

“We must take difficult decisions which ensure the interests of the Cypriot people,” he said.

“We have reviewed the situation within and outside Cyprus and we are alert, we are monitoring the situation very carefully.”

Asked if there was a chance that Cyprus would be a target, he answered “our country proves in practice that it is not involved in any way in the escalation. We do not think that we solve problems with attacks”.

We reviewed the situation, we are vigilant, everything that needs to be done is being done, we are monitoring the situation very carefully, he added.

After a scheduled telephone conversation with the President of the European Commission, Christodoulides is also due to talk with other European leaders, while on Wednesday he will be in Brussels for an informal European Council, where the matter will be raised.

“The concern of the international community at the moment is that there will be no continuation of what started, because any continuity leads to an escalation that may lead things out of control. Therefore, we ask for and send the message of total restraint,” Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said.

The meeting of the National Security Council was scheduled after Iran launched drone strikes at Israel, following an earlier meeting of the same council on Friday amid growing concerns. 

Kombos spoke on Saturday about his concerns about an Iranian attack on Israel and the consequences it would have for Cyprus.

“The Republic of Cyprus is geographically at the heart of this situation. We are under no illusion that we can chart the political path to deal with this situation,” but he added the island is in a position to speak with those involved and called for a return to normality.

Meanwhile, British fighter jets were deployed from the Akrotiri base in Cyprus on Saturday night to help with Israel’s defence against Iran’s attack, it emerged in the early hours of Sunday morning.

UK sources confirmed to the Cyprus Mail fighter jets departed from Cyprus – but could not immediately confirm how many and when exactly.

Christodoulides was asked if the British informed Cyprus about the attacks from the bases, but he said “no, there was no prior information from the British. “Afterwards, the foreign minister spoke last night with the British foreign secretary and was briefed on the situation, but, no, there was no advance information.”

“The Republic of Cyprus, in no case, will be involved in any operation and action that has an aggressive character against anyone,” Kombos said.

“It must be clear and unequivocal that these or similar activities are not subject to the approval of the Republic of Cyprus. In no case can they be identified with the Republic of Cyprus and its policy. This is a message that we repeatedly stress,” he added.

He would not be drawn on whether or not the British bases would become a target. “I think now you are asking me to speculate. And if I had such information, it would be completely wrong of me to comment on it publicly. I do not have this kind of information”.

The United Nations Security Council is also to meet on Sunday after Israel requested the council condemn Iran’s attack on Israel and designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organisation.

The meeting will take place at 20:00 GMT, according to a schedule released late on Saturday.

Speaking to Sigma on Sunday, Cyprus Ambassador in Israel Kornelios Korneliou said in Tel Aviv there were no missile or drone strikes but “there was uncertainty, great anxiety, as well as fear”.

Asked by the journalist if the strike was expected, Korneliou said talk has been going on about the strike for ten days, and they were made aware of it by comments of the American president who correctly said it would take place in the next 48 hours.