President Nikos Christodoulides has addressed the Cypriot public in a televised message, stressing that the country’s safety remains the government’s “supreme and non-negotiable priority” and categorically ruling out any Cypriot participation in military operations amid the escalating regional crisis.
“I want to repeat in the most emphatic terms that our country does not participate in any way, nor does it intend to be part of any military operation,” Christodoulides said. “We remain committed to the humanitarian role we have served throughout this period. Always part of the solution, and never part of the problem.”
The president said the entire government and all competent state services have been on full operational alert from the outset, acting with “responsibility, transparency, and with the sole aim of safeguarding the country and its citizens.”
He added that timely and reliable public information is a fundamental condition for responsible management of the situation, with all updates being provided through official government communication channels.
On the diplomatic front, the president said Cyprus has secured immediate assistance from Greece and France and is in advanced talks with other states, with further announcements expected shortly. He thanked both countries on behalf of the Cypriot people and government for their “tangible and substantive support.”
The president called on the public for cooperation and composure, saying these moments demand both. “We will not stop working for a single moment, with the safety of our country and our people as our foremost concern,” he said, closing with his address’s stated message: “We are doing what must be done — with responsibility.”
Christodoulides announced that an emergency mobile alert system is being activated on a trial basis, allowing Civil Defence to send direct messages to citizens’ phones if and when required. He added that work is under way to repatriate all Cypriots stranded abroad, with the first repatriation flights having already arrived.
SMS Alert System Draws Criticism
The president’s reference to the emergency mobile alert system came as the government faced widespread public criticism over its handling of the test message sent earlier in the day.
Many Cyprus residents took to social media to report they had not received the alert at all. Others reported receiving the message in the wrong language, with some Greek-speaking residents receiving it in English only, and some English-speaking residents receiving it in Greek only.
The Interior Ministry had declared the test a success, stating the system was “functioning normally” and that two further planned messages would be held back unless circumstances required them.
However, the ministry subsequently acknowledged that delivery times had varied across telecoms providers, with a significant number of subscribers receiving the message late.
The Deputy Ministry of Innovation, Research and Digital Policy said it is now in talks with providers to explore whether delivery times can be reduced, and that the measure will be reassessed.
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