Blanar: Slovakia Evacuating More Citizens from Middle East

Bratislava, 18 June (TASR) - Slovakia is transporting 99 more Slovak and foreign nationals to safety from the Middle East on Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's communications department has told TASR, adding that two Slovak evacuation flights will bring them from Larnaca in Cyprus and Amman in Jordan. "On the third day of one of the most challenging logistical operations, we're evacuating to Slovakia one hundred citizens of our homeland, as well as nationals of our partner countries who have asked us for help. Among them are diplomats and tourists, including four babies just a few months old. Their rescue is strong proof of why such an immediate and coordinated operation makes such important sense," said Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD). A Slovak government aircraft first transported 15 Jordanian citizens from Bratislava to Jordan, along with seven specially dispatched workers from Austria and Switzerland, and it is currently on its way back from Amman to Slovakia with 83 people, including seven Slovak nationals. Since Monday (16 June), Slovak military aircraft have been transporting evacuated citizens from Aqaba and Amman in Jordan to Larnaca in Cyprus. On Wednesday, it returned to Slovakia with another nine Slovak citizens, six Czech nationals and one Ukrainian. "The whole evacuation process confirms that Slovakia is a reliable and responsible partner ready to lend a helping hand in crises. With a fast and professional rescue operation we've consolidated the strong reputation of the Slovak Republic at the international level, of which we are very proud," added Blanar. am/df