The Cabinet decided on Wednesday that the flags on government buildings will be flown at half mast in honour of the two forest fire-fighters who lost their lives on Monday, battling a wildfire in the Solea region.
Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said the Cabinet decided on a series of measures to honour the two forest fire-fighters and support their families.
In statements to the press, Christodoulides said the President will abstain from all his scheduled activities during the week and will attend the funerals of the two men, who will be buried at public expense. He added that it has been decided to declare three days of mourning with flags on public buildings flying at half mast. The fallen firefighters will be honoured at a special ceremony, he said.
The Cabinet also decided on measures to support the families of the two fire-fighters.
Furthermore the Department of Forests will prepare and submit to the Cabinet in two months a rapid reforestation plan of the land scorched in the wildfire.
“During today`s meeting, the Cabinet was informed by the Health Minister about the condition of the people who suffered injuries, and by the competent Ministers on the situation on the front of the fire. Then the President informed the Cabinet that he will abstain from all official events until the end of the week. He will attend the funerals of Marios Aristotelous and Andreas Sophocleous,” he said.
The Spokesman said that the President will attend his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader scheduled for Thursday in the framework of the Cyprus talks.
The Cabinet, said Christodoulides, decided that the two men will be declared heroes and will be honoured and awarded medals at a special ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
The Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and the Ministry of Health will support the families of the two fallen fire-fighters in every way. Each family will receive from the state 167 thousand euro as compensation based on existing regulations and 95 thousand euro for the spouse and each one of the children.
The Cabinet decided that the children of the two forest fire-fighters will be offered scholarships of up to ten thousand euro per year, by Cyprus` State Scholarship Foundation for their studies in Cyprus or abroad, both for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
All the competent services headed by their District Officer will record the damage caused by the fire on private properties in order for the Government to approve compensation.
The Spokesman confirmed that the President had a telephone conversation with President of the European Council Donald Tusk.
The President of the Republic thanked the EU for its response in activating the relevant mechanism and agreed with the President of the European Council to be in touch depending on the developments. Anastasiades will travel to Brussels next week.
Christodoulides said Nicosia is “in continuous consultations with the Russian Government and there will be announcements soon” regarding the Government`s request for Moscow to help extinguish the fire.