Fire-fighters that had arrived in Cyprus to help tackle the Troodos blaze in the summer were subjected to stringent passport control and ordered to pay airport tax, according to media reports on Wednesday.
According to sources of Phileleftheros, crew members from Greece, Israel, France and Italy were subjected to intensive passport scrutiny and other controls on arrival – something that not only taken them aback but also delayed their arrivals onto the scene as the Soleas fire raged out of control on the footsteps of Troodos.
It later emerged that the state had moved to foot the bill instead but the emergency services are none the less expected to hold a meeting to avoid a similar fracas in the future.
A Monday meeting between stakeholders included the suggestion that the Civil Defence be put in charge of coordinating the arrival of overseas said including informing them where they can refuel and park.
The Civil Aviation Authority would, according to the same suggestion, be responsible for the airport fees incurred.
The paper went on to say that another suggestion was made that helicopters and planes land at the Andreas Papandreou Airbase in Paphos instead of at one of the commercial airports. This would mean that there would be no additional airport fees to be paid and that facilities for the aircrafts’ immediate refueling would be close at hand.
