Implementation of the “Estia” Plan
exercise
in the framework of the “Argonaftis
2014” multinational exercise
In the framework of the "Estia"
National Crisis Management Plan, involving the response to a crisis which
requires mass evacuation and repatriation of citizens via Cyprus from the Middle
East region, a large-scale multinational exercise with the participation of
thirteen countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark,
Spain, Italy, Canada, UK, USA, Norway and The Netherlands) will take place next
Monday and Tuesday, on 19 and 20 May. The said states are members of the
informal Non Combatant Evacuation Coordination Group, of which the Republic
became a member last year.
European External Action Service
representatives will also participate as observers in the exercise.
The Exercise will take place at the
Larnaca Civil Defence premises, which constitutes the multinational Management
Coordination Centre of the Non Combatant Evacuation Coordination Group for the
Middle East region. The exercise is unique in its kind and its participants
attach great importance to it.
The Republic’s competent bodies for the
support of the work of the informal Non Combatant Evacuation Coordination Group
are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Defence and the Search and Rescue
Coordination Centre.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the competent
body for the management of crises which fall within foreign policy competence,
participates in the multinational “Argonaftis 2014” exercise , organized by the National Guard. In the framework of the exercise,
during the exercise’s first and second phase on 20 May, the readiness of the
Ministries and Services involved in the implementation of the “Estia” Plan will
be verified. During the exercise the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs will be activared, from where the coordination of actions will
be carried out by the Crisis Management Executive Team.
Moreover, a simulation procedure will take
place at Larnaka Port, of a mass arrival of civilians and of their
disembarkation, control, transport and accomodation in the designated areas
until repatriation .
Foreign states representatives,
diplomats, military officials and international organisations representatives
have been invited and will attend the exercise.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends
its thanks to the partners who contribute, with their participation in the
“Estia” Plan exercise, to the overall performance enhancement and proper
preparation for dealing with crisis situations.
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