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Turkey attempted to prevent Cyprus’ efforts for Gaza aid, President says

Turkey has attempted behind the scenes to prevent the effort of the Republic of Cyprus to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides said Friday referring to plans for an aid mission to Gaza from Turkey, stressing that any other effort, especially at this stage, would aim at creating more problems.

Asked by a journalist whether Turkish plans to send aid to Gaza would affect the effort of the Republic of Cyprus, (which has planned and implements a maritime humanitarian aid to Gaza from Larnaka port, called “Amalthea”), he said that “they would like to create problems in our effort” adding that behind the scenes “they tried to prevent our own effort”.

He noted that what distinguishes the effort of the Republic of Cyprus is that after 17 years, the maritime blockade of Gaza has been lifted for ships leaving the port of Larnaka.

“It is clear that any other effort, especially at this stage, aims, because they know it cannot be done, to create more general problems,” he said
, adding that “this is a usual behavior of Turkey.”

“Those who talk to Turkey and who have a relationship with Turkey are also taking relevant actions” towards this, he noted.

Asked when the second ship carrying humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza is expected to sail from Larnaka for Gaza, President Christodoulides said that it is in the final stage noting though that weather conditions are affecting the operation.

He referred to his meeting this week with US military officials, saying that they presented him with plans and photos of their effort to build there a temporary port. The final date is May 1, he said, adding that “but they assured me, seeing the progress of the work, that before the end of May, possibly before April 15, it will be completed.”

This is something that will allow easier access to Gaza and thus more aid to be sent, he stressed.

The President was also asked about the President of the European Parliament’s visit to Cyprus. Christodoulides said that he will meet with Roberta Metsol
a on the 1st of April, while the following day they will visit together Larnaka. The President of the EP, he said, had asked to see the “Amalthea” operation of the Republic of Cyprus up close. Following that, they will make statements to the press at the site.

The President said that in the framework of her visit, an event will be organized with young people, something that she does in all member states, to encourage them to participate in the electoral process for the European Parliament elections.

He said that encouraging the youth to participate is something that the government does through various campaigns and actions. He noted the importance of the largest possible participation of Cypriots in the elections saying that this will send a message to Brussels.

Source: Cyprus News Agency