European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be in Cyprus on Friday to inspect infrastructure developments integral to the planning of a maritime humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced on Wednesday.
Following a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace, Letymbiotis responded to journalists’ questions regarding the progress on the humanitarian aid corridor to Gaza, particularly in light of reports from Israel suggesting interest from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in providing humanitarian aid through Cyprus. Letymbiotis stressed that interest from regional and international actors, including EU member states and institutions, in the maritime corridor, has been substantial from the outset.
‘For this reason, European Commission President von der Leyen will visit Cyprus, where she will join the President of the Republic in inspecting infrastructure components integral to certain phases of the planning’, he said.
According to the Spokesman, von de
r Leyen is expected to arrive to Cyprus on Thursday night.
A detailed program for her visit will be announced on Thursday, and on the same evening, the President of the Republic will host a private dinner in her honour.
“What is particularly significant is the recognition of the added value of a maritime corridor for the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza, which is increasing. This demonstrates that we can provide humanitarian assistance as soon as possible,” said Letymbiotis.
Asked to comment on statements by the Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, regarding the maritime corridor, the Spokesperson said that the maritime corridor solely aims at providing humanitarian aid to the civilian population in Gaza.
“This has been our goal from the beginning, a one-way maritime corridor for the unhindered provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza amidst a major, enormous humanitarian crisis as it unfolds,” he said.
He pointed out that this is the s
ole and exclusive objective of this initiative.
Source: Cyprus News Agency
