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The evacuation plan for the embassy of Greece in Libya had been under preparation for several days; its implementation started this Wednesday and will probably finish today. Military confrontation is intensifying in the capital city of Tripoli and the out-of-control situation prompted the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Defence Ministry to prepare evacuation of the diplomatic mission staff. A military frigate sailed to Libya for the evacuation.

The decision to evacuate the diplomats and the rest of the embassy personnel of the Greek embassy by sea was taken for security reasons. The alternative route was to take the staff to Tunis by motor vehicles but it was rejected. Evacuation by air was not discussed at all as it is considered impossible.

Besides the embassy personnel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed approximately 80 Greeks who live in Libya about the chance to leave the country on board this ship.

Athens received requests from other countries to provide transport for their citizens since Greece is the sole country to send a military ship to Libya for evacuation purposes. Among the foreigners expected to embark, there will be Chinese citizens, too. In 2011, the evacuation of Chinese citizens from Libya was also carried out via Greece, noted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.