President of Cyprus Responds to Nasrallah’s Threats: The Republic of Cyprus isn’t involved in any way in this war

Cypriot President Nicos Christodoulides responded to the threats with remarks saying that “the Republic of Cyprus isn’t involved in any way in this war”.

Christodoulides stressed that Cyprus is part of the solution, not the problem, stressing that his country played a role recognized by the Arab world and the entire international community in opening a sea corridor that allows the delivery of humanitarian aid from Cyprus to Gaza.

Earlier, Cyprus Ambassador to Tel Aviv Kornelios Korneliou said his country would officially respond to remarks made by Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday.

This came in remarks made by Korneliou to the Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, in response to Nasrallah’s warning to the Cyprus government against opening its airports to Israel in the event of a war on Lebanon.

“When such a person threatens (Nasrallah), there will definitely be a response… We’re waiting for an official response from Nicosia”.

“Relations between Israel and Cyprus have never been so strong before, and everything is done publicly,” he said.

He said his country was trying to play a modest role in terms of transporting humanitarian aid to Gaza in close coordination with Israel.

“I’m sure, all of this isn’t welcomed by Hezbollah,” he added.

Korneliou reviewed relations between his country and Israel, saying, “If we check the number of flights between the two countries, we will be surprised”.

“Tomorrow there will be 19 flights from Israel to Cyprus… It’s very strong on the tourism, business and politics agenda in Israel,” he said.

On Wednesday evening, Hezbollah’s secretary-general warned the Greek Cypriot government against opening its airports to Israel in the war, saying that if it did so it would mean it has become part of the war.

This came in a speech during a memorial ceremony for the party’s leader, Talib Sami Abdullah “Haj Abu Talib”, who was killed in an Israeli raid on June 12.

Nasrallah said, “We’ve information that the enemy (Israel) is conducting maneuvers in Cypriot areas and airports, and he considers that if its airports are targeted, it will use Cypriot airports and facilities”.

“Therefore, the Cypriot government should know that once Cypriot airports and bases are opened for the war on Lebanon, we will treat Cyprus as if it were part of the war,” Nasrallah said.