The National Security Council (NSC) is in continuous session and decisions will be taken with the sole criterion of safeguarding the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday, noting that Cyprus is not involved in any way in any attacks or anything else.

The President of the Republic was replying to journalists' questions, upon his arrival at the Arodafnousa Palliative Care Center where the annual "Christodoula March" in support of cancer patients took place.

Asked about the National Security Council meeting held earlier this morning, he replied "as you can see the developments, the situation is very difficult. Our hope and expectation are that there will be no further escalation."

The President added that an escalation is not in anyone's interest, noting that "in such difficult times, the decisions we have to make are difficult. Difficult decisions which, however, are taken with the sole criterion the need to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people."

He said that it was in this context that the National Security Council meeting was held.

"We have reviewed the situation, we have seen the latest information both outside Cyprus and inside Cyprus and we will be in a continuous session, we are on alert, everything that needs to be done is being done, we are monitoring the situation very carefully," President Christodoulides said.

Telephone call with European Commission President this afternoon

At the same time, he announced that at 16:30 today he will have a scheduled telephone conversation with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and will also speak with other European leaders. He added that he will be in Brussels on Wednesday for the informal European Council and the situation will be discussed.

The President pointed out that in this context "there is also the burning issue of migration, which is of great concern to us and I hope that some decisions will be taken." He further explained that "it is for this reason that a group of states within the EU is being set up on our own initiative, which is calling for decisions to be taken, particularly with the status in Syria. We will review all this on Wednesday."

"We are on constant alert, the National Security Council is in continuous session and accordingly we will see what other decisions will be taken," he added.

There was no prior information from the British about the use of the Bases

Asked whether there was any advance information from the British authorities about the use of the Bases on the island, the President said "no, there was no advance information from the British."

"After we saw it, the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke to the British Minister of Foreign Affairs last night and was briefed on the situation, but, no, there was no advance briefing."

All necessary security measures are taken

Asked to refer to the measures taken at places of Iranian interests, the President said that "all necessary measures are being taken, not today. It was not today's decision, the decision was taken days ago. All necessary measures are being taken, there is a continuous evaluation by the relevant services and we are in continuous meetings."

Asked if there is a possibility of Cyprus being targeted because of the British operations from the bases, the President said that "Cyprus is not involved in any way in any attacks, or anything else. Cyprus - and our role shows it, last night, for example, planes came to Cyprus from neighbouring countries, they will leave today of course, some have already left - our country proves in practice with many actions that we are not involved in any way.

He expressed hope that there would be no escalation of the situation, noting that "we do not believe that such ways, through aggressive activities, solve any problems."

Decisions that some may not like

Asked about his post yesterday on "X" platform that the processing of asylum applications from Syrians is suspended and what this means in practical terms, President Christodoulides said that "it means what it says. That asylum applications for migrants from Syria will not be examined. We are in an emergency situation, these are difficult decisions, always within the framework of legality, which have one and only one goal: to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus, of the Cypriot people."

He added that "the Republic of Cyprus has over time shown its sensitivity to refugees and to difficult situations in our neighbourhood and it is within this framework that we are responsible and accountable to the Cypriot people to take such decisions. I have been saying for a long time that we will take decisions that some people may not like."