The hope for the conclusion of agreements and cooperation programs in the coming months, which will further strengthen the relations of Cyprus with the United States, was expressed on Monday by the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis.

In his greeting during the graduation ceremony of the 82nd Underwater Demolition Class that took place at the Naval Base “Evangelos Florakis” in Mari, the Minister said that the new graduates are “the tip of the spear in one of the most selected units of the National Guard”.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Minister also stated that we are going through a difficult global situation with the war in Ukraine with political and economic consequences. “The Republic of Cyprus has condemned the invasion and remains in solidarity with the European Union’s efforts to resolve the issue,” he said.

At such a critical turning point in history, he continued, “considering the Turkish invasion we have been experiencing for 48 years, we cannot remain inactive. We must make sober, but also courageous, decisions according to the principles and values ​​based on international law, aiming for a free and democratic world.”

Stating that “we must not forget who we are facing”, the Minister of Defence explained that “we are facing a country like Turkey which – on a daily basis – shows its intentions, methodically seeking the creation of two states, proceeding with new illegal interventions in the enclosed city of Famagusta, violating our exclusive economic zone and instrumentalizing the immigration crisis, facilitating the entry of thousands of immigrants into the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, with the aim of demographic change and the provocation of a social crisis.”

We remain, however, committed and ready to start a constructive dialogue for a fair settlement of the Cyprus problem based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. On the other hand, we are obliged to continue training, equipping our armed forces and maintaining their readiness at high levels.”

In his greeting, the Minister also referred to the “Agapinor 2022” exercise, which took place recently and is part of, as he put it, “our bilateral cooperation with Israel, offering valuable experiences to National Guard personnel in conducting operations, including urban warfare. Essential knowledge for every modern army.”

Regarding the first high-level working visit to the US Pentagon, the State Department and the Security Council, the Minister said: “We have promoted our desire for strategic defence cooperation. We hope that in the coming months, agreements and cooperation programs that will further strengthen our relations with the United States will be concluded.”

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