President aims for Cyprus-Gaza humanitarian route

Efforts to establish a maritime humanitarian corridor between Cyprus and Gaza continue on a technocratic and diplomatic level, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday afternoon.

President Christodoulides was replying to journalists' questions on the sidelines of an event in Nicosia.

Regarding Cyprus’ proposal for a humanitarian corridor for Gaza, the President said that he welcomes the statement of the President of the European Commission that the European Union does support this effort.

He said that procedures are ongoing both a a technocratic and diplomatic level. He announced that Wednesday he will be in Paris and one of the main proposals to be discussed is the Cyprus proposal for Gaza.

As to whether anything specific was requested from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken with whom he met on Sunday, the President said that the meeting was indeed not planned and it is important that Blinken relayed to him the discussions he had with all the interested parties who recognise the role that Cyprus can play as an EU member state in the region and a state that has excellent relations with all countries in the area.

Asked if military facilities were requested, he answered "no”.

He said that Blinken thanked Cyprus for its role in the evacuation of citizens and pointed out that "our country and its territory will not be used to carry out any aggressive actions."

“Moreover, our goal and our expectation is to stop this state of affairs (in the region),” he underlined.

Asked about the possibility of foreign military ships being used to accompany the aid to Gaza he said that this is one aspect of the many that has been examined.

President Christodoulides noted that there is a specific working document which he shared with Secretary Blinken yesterday as well as with some other states including France and with the EC Head, which describes the very specific steps to be taken.