Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said Friday that hopefully in the next few days announcements will be made for humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Amalthea plan set up by the island authorities in 2024.

In statements to the press following a meeting he had in Nicosia with Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Cyprus’ Foreign Minister said that we have been ready to start in an operational level but things were put on hold because of the latest events.

“Now that we have the ceasefire, we are having a fresh look at the arrangements, our organisational planning has proceeded up to the final point of making the decision. We are missing certain elements right now, because of the time that has passed and the opportunity that we missed because of what happened, but we are ready,” he noted.

“We are willing always in cooperation with the United Nations and with approved entities from the United Nations and hopefully in the next few days we would be in a position to have some kind of an announcement,” he said.

Kombos said that the authorities have concentrated quantities of aid that are exceeding 1,200 tonnes as we speak, adding that there is an opportunity also for the European Union in terms of offering a supplementary route into Gaza.

Kombos said that during their meeting they agreed about the need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of the hostages, and also about, the exclusion of Hamas from the political future of Gaza.

Kombos referred to the role of Cyprus in evacuating foreign citizens and Israelis via “Estia” national plan and about the repatriation of 53 Cyprus nationals from Iran and Israel in extremely difficult and tricky conditions. He said that more than 3,000 foreign citizens were evacuated through Cyprus.

He also noted that the EU and all the member states should be more active in terms of engaging in a constructive dialogue as regards the quantities of aid going into Gaza.

The Austrian Minister in her statements expressed gratitude for Cyprus’ role in evacuating foreign citizens and praised its stance in times of crisis. “You are a kind of lighthouse towards the Middle East. Every crisis affects you immediately,” she said.

She said that more than 100 Austrians from Iran and 300 from Israel returned home safely via Larnaka.

Referring to the crisis in the Middle East in general and the situation with Iran she said that diplomacy is the key.

About the Cyprus issue the Austrian Minister noted that they support a united, federal Cyprus, pointing out “there cannot be any ideas about a two-state solution here”. She spoke of the contribution of Austria to UNFICYP with more than 17,000 soldiers over the years.

She also praised the fact that Cyprus EU Presidency will focus in EU relations and role in the region.