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Roundup: Cyprus discussing with Russia on providing facilities in cases of emergency: FM

Xinhua, December 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cyprus is discussing with Russia the issue of facilities for humanitarian reasons and in cases of emergency, Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides said on Monday.

Kasoulides was commenting on statements by Russian Ambassador Stanislav Osadchiy that Russia is discussing with Cyprus for facilities in connection with its campaign against the Islamic State (IS).

The Russian embassy in Nicosia later issued a statement carried by RIA Novosti that Moscow had asked for facilities to use Cypriot ports and airports only in cases of emergency, "the same facilities France and Germany already have."

"There is no case of using them for military reasons," said the embassy's statement.

Kasoulides also made it clear that the facilities under discussion do not involve the use of Cypriot airports or ports for launching attacks against IS.

"We have repeatedly said that there is a dialogue going on between Cyprus and Russia concerning facilities for humanitarian reasons and for emergency purposes," said Kasoulides.

He said that what is being discussed is an agreement for the evacuation of Russian nationals from the Middle East region and for other emergency cases provided for by international law.

"An agreement is currently under legal scrutiny and will be signed with Moscow when ready," he added.

"This is exactly the case with France. France and Germany have in addition facilities accorded some time ago for their participation in UNIFIL, the mission of the United Nations to Lebanon," Kasoulides said.

France and Germany have been given permission to use an airbase near the southwestern city of Paphos for refueling, evacuation operations, and technical service.

Cyprus is being used by British aircraft for strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq.

Britain, the former colonial ruler of Cyprus, retained two sovereign bases when it granted independence to the island in 1980, which are technically considered as British soil.

Asked whether Cyprus plans to give facilities to any country for operations against IS, Kasoulides said that facilities requested by France are for its aircraft taking part in operations to land at Cypriot airports in cases of emergency.

"International Law provides for facilities to be given to any one facing an emergency," Kasoulides added. Endit