Minister of Defence on Al Arabiya | The Cyprus – UAE cooperation, the exercise “Medusa” and the issue of Varosia

The Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis gave an interview on the UAE television network Al Arabiya. Mr. Petridis discussed issues such as the multinational exercise “Medusa” and the message Cyprus, Greece and Egypt send through it, the bilateral cooperation of Cyprus with the United Arab Emirates, the EAST MED pipeline, the Turkish challenges and the issue of Varosia. 

Regarding the “Medusa” exercise, the Minister of Defence stated that, “the exercise started in 2017 as a result of the trilateral defence cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt. We consider it a very important Exercise, as it is a large-scale, joint exercise with the participation of a large number of naval and air assets. It is particularly important for the creation of interoperability and cooperation between our countries to promote stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

For the participation of the United Arab Emirates and France, Mr. Petridis said that: “The focus of the exercise was to exercise with Egyptian and Greek forces. This year, for the first time, we are extremely grateful that the United Arab Emirates and France are participating in this exercise. We welcome their participation and we are confident that both countries will contribute greatly to the goals of the Exercise. The active participation of the UAE and France in “Medusa” is mutually beneficial and is a real added value to the operational objectives of the exercise. We are grateful for this and hope that we will be able to do more collaborations and joint exercises with the UAE in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

The Minister of Defence added that: “With the addition of the UAE and France, Exercise “Medusa” becomes even more important for stability and cooperation in the region. We warmly welcome the participation of the UAE, a country that we consider a critical actor in the international and regional arena, promoting the values ​​of cooperation and understanding. The UAE’s interest in stability in the Eastern Mediterranean is extremely important to us and to other partner countries in the region, such as Greece, Egypt and most recently Israel.”

Regarding the message given through these exercises, Charalambos Petridis replied: “Exercising together, despite the difficulties created by the global pandemic, is extremely important as we can demonstrate our willingness to work towards achieving the goal of peace and stability, as well as to counter threats and acts of provocation and aggression.”

Regarding the bilateral cooperation of Cyprus with the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Petridis commented that: “Cyprus is the closest EU member state to the Gulf countries. Hence our role as a bridge between the Gulf and the EU is very important and key to our foreign and defence policy.

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Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates are both naval nations, so they have a common understanding of our role in securing maritime trade routes, trade, etc. I should also note that, since 2017, the DP World (Dubai Ports World) of the UAE has the sole responsibility for managing and running our biggest Port in Limassol.”

He added: “We live in an era when threats are transnational. We need to work closely together to address common threats and challenges such as terrorism, radicalization, arms trafficking, etc.”

Regarding the areas of cooperation of Cyprus with the UAE, the Minister stated that: “Recently in the joint ministerial committee at the level of Foreign Ministers, the two countries agreed on a renewed and ambitious bilateral cooperation program in many areas such as trade, investment, culture, maritime, higher education and of course defence and security cooperation. Recently, a few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to discuss the very positive prospects of our defence cooperation in a telephone conversation I had with my counterpart, His Majesty Mohammed Al Bawardi, with whom we had a very cordial exchange of views.

We both agreed to work towards strengthening our bilateral defence cooperation and I have sent an invitation to His Excellency to visit Cyprus in the near future to continue discussions. We will focus on our work, in the coming months, on the creation of stable and strong facilities for our future work and cooperation in the field of defence and security and on the creation of a structured program of bilateral defence cooperation.”

Regarding the Israel-UAE agreements, Mr. Petridis said: “The active role and presence of the UAE, including the historic Abraham-Israel agreements, is a testament to the UAE’s solid interest in peace, stability and prosperity in the region.”

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The prospects for cooperation on both a bilateral and a trilateral basis are enormous. The various trilateral cooperation formats in the Eastern Mediterranean, in which Cyprus and Greece participate, could also serve as an additional element for cooperation with the UAE.”

Regarding the EAST MED pipeline and the trilateral formations in which Cyprus participates, the Minister replied that: “EastMed should be considered as a regional security subsystem.” The Minister explained that the countries that make up EAST MED face many threats together, from climate change, energy security, illegal migration, arms trafficking. He also noted that “we also have hostile and aggressive actions from one country to the rest of our countries.”

“Cooperation and consultation are the key to managing threats and challenges. In recent years, Cyprus and Greece have developed similar forms of trilateral cooperation formats with Egypt, Israel, Jordan, from the level of Head of State to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence,” said Mr. Petridis.

The Minister of Defence, during his interview given to the Arab network, did not fail to refer to the illegal Turkish actions in the region, stating that: “For Cyprus the situation is clear, regarding the escalating tensions with Turkey. At a time when Cyprus with other neighboring and friendly countries is trying to promote a new regional framework for bilateral and trilateral partnerships, as well as strengthening and increasing cooperation with the EU Mediterranean forces, and with other neighboring countries, Turkey is the only state in the region that chooses challenges, escalation, threats and misinformation as the basis for its foreign policy.

“Another example of cooperation is the recent signing of the EastMed Gas Forum map, where a modern, open and inclusive regional cooperation platform has been created. We welcome any country in the region that respects international law to participate in the Forum, as this framework for cooperation is comprehensive and open to any country with a positive agenda. Unfortunately, Turkey is excluded from it, adopting a completely irrelevant revisionist approach, expansionist behavior and extremely aggressive rhetoric towards anyone opposing its illegal plans,” the Defence Minister said.

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In his statements, Charalambos Petridis called on Turkey to accept the invitation of Cyprus, to start negotiations, in good faith and with full respect for international law, with the aim of achieving agreement on maritime delimitation between their coasts, or to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice.

“Cyprus has no choice but to continue cooperating with all those who embrace common European principles and values ​​and international law,” he said.

Regarding the issue of Varosia and the partial opening of the coastal front by Turkey as well as the illegal formation in the occupied territories, the Minister commented that: “Turkey violated the status quo in the occupied territory of Cyprus, as defined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions [550 (1984) and 789 (1992)].

“Mr Erdogan visited the beach in front of the fenced area of ​​Varosia and could not be more provocative. Regardless of what the EU and the UN Security Council have stated, it intends to open the fenced area of ​​Varosia, contrary to what the relevant decisions of the Security Council stipulate, i.e. transfer of the administration of the region to the UN”, the Minister pointed out. 

Concluding his interview, the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis, referred to Turkey’s goals, commenting that: “In the broader context, it was equally clear that Turkey aims to impose the permanent division of Cyprus, through a two-state solution. This position is in stark contrast to the agreed basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation provided for in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and to a solution in accordance with EU law, values ​​and principles.”

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