''Cyprus prepared for Lebanon conflict fallout,'' says Kombos

A possible spillover of the conflict in Lebanon would have catastrophic consequences, Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos said on Tuesday, while noting that the Republic of Cyprus is preparing for such an eventuality standing ready to evacuate third country nationals from Lebanon. He reiterated that Cyprus is not used as a base for the war in the Middle East.

Kombos was speaking before the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee where the developments in the Middle East and the way they affect Cyprus were discussed. He also briefed the Committee members on the results of his recent trip to the US.

He was then invited to respond to questions raised by the Committee members, many of which revolved around the situation in the Middle East and the dangers it may pose to Cyprus, as well as the role of the British Bases in the region and the position of the Republic of Cyprus.

Referring to the situation in the Middle East Kombos said that it is deteriorating, adding that a spillover of the conflict in Lebanon will have "catastrophic consequences." He noted that the Republic of Cyprus is preparing in case of such an eventuality to evacuate third country nationals from Lebanon, adding that the number of people fleeing the area may be over 100,000. He also spoke of the likelihood of citizens of Lebanon and Israel also travelling towards Cyprus as well as of the possibility of having a new influx of refugees, as a large number of Syrians reside in Lebanon.

Speaking about the recent threats made by Hezbollah against Cyprus he underlined that Cyprus has nothing to do with helping Israel's military operations nor will it have in the future, pointing out that this has been rejected "in the clearest possible way" by President Nikos Christodoulides.

The agenda of the meeting did not lack references to the results of yesterday's meeting at the Presidential Palace with the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Colin Stewart. Kombos said that the Government disagrees with Stewart over the militarisation of the buffer zone and the matter of irregular immigrants who have passed to the buffer zone from the Turkish occupied areas. "We disagree on both matters and is not bad to express disagreement," he said.

He added about UN Secretary General's report on UNFICYP expected to be released on Wednesday that it will not be acceptable if it is evident that in the report presents as equal events such as what happened last summer in Pyla on the one hand and the presence of one farmer in the buffer zone.

Referring to the actions the government intends to take regarding the usurpation of property in the Turkish occupied areas he said that this government for the first time has a plan adding that "the political will is there that we will not just observe the phenomenon without acting."

Regarding developments in the Cyprus problem, the Foreign Minister did not express a position, as the meeting of the National Council to be chaired by President Christodoulides is set to take place in the coming days.

Speaking about the results of his trip to the United States, Kombos referred to a series of meetings and contacts he had with officials and institutions, as well as with members of the Diaspora. He also referred to the strategic dialogue being developed on security, counter-terrorism and cybersecurity, with the participation of 30 countries, including 13 from the EU. He noted that as part of the dialogue meetings will be held on an annual basis and that the first meeting is scheduled for next September.

The Foreign Minister also referred to the cooperation prospects with the US on education and energy issues. In addition, in response to a question from the Committee's Chairman and DISY MP Harris Georgiades, he also referred to the actions for a longer-term lifting of the US arms embargo against Cyprus, as well as the lifting of the visa requirement for those visiting the US.

Regarding the arms sales embargo, he said that a bill has been submitted to Congress for a five-year lifting, instead of the one-year one currently in force, and added that the attitude of the US executive is quite positive. He noted, however, that it is not clear at what point in time this can be done, given the upcoming elections and the political controversy that exists, particularly on foreign policy issues. "I think we are in a better position than we were last year when this was attempted," he said.

On the visa waiver, he said such a decision is influenced by a number of factors and referred in particular to the fact that the number of applicants was not particularly high.

Kombos also referred to Ukrainians who fled to Cyprus because of the war, saying that their number changes regularly. He noted that at the moment there are about 21,000. He added that the government is making provisions for this population, noting that last year a budget line was passed for their needs and stating that "the Republic of Cyprus is particularly sensitive to these issues and because of historical experiences."

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Last January, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.