Cyprus expresses readiness to mediate release of Lebanese captives
The Cypriot government has expressed its readiness to be part of the mediations for the release of the Israel-held Lebanese captives, in continuation of its part in the mediation that led to the release of Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov who was kidnapped in Iraq, Lebanese sources informed on the negotiations said.
“Through a lightning visit to Beirut and a meeting with a prominent security official following up on the file, Cypriot intelligence chief Tasos Tzionis carried his country’s desire to continue the mediation it had started,” the sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
“He is contact with foreign sides capable of pressing Israel to release them and he also met with Hezbollah officials,” the sources said.
The Lebanese security official told Tzionis that “Lebanon agrees to the continuation of the Cypriot mediation for the release of the captives and that it welcomes any international or regional effort to press Israel to release them as soon as possible, because it is one of the government’s priorities,” while noting that “Lebanon has nothing to offer in return for their release,” the sources added.
The sources also revealed that Tzionis had visited Beirut on Monday evening before meeting on Tuesday with the security leader and the Hezbollah officials.
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