Ways to further strengthen and upgrade Cyprus-UAE ties were discussed by the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis, with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

According to a ministry statement, during his visit to Abu Dhabi and the IDEX 2021 International Military Equipment Exhibition, the Minister of Defence had the opportunity to meet with his counterparts from the United Arab Emirates, Greece, Serbia, Egypt and Jordan.

Mr Petrides paid a visit to the UAE capital at the invitation of his counterpart Mohammed Bin Ahmed Al Bowardi. The Minister, accompanied by the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Democritus Zervakis, had the opportunity to be briefed on modern weapon systems by representatives of advanced military countries.

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During his presence in Abu Dhabi, the Minister was received by his UAE counterpart, to whom he conveyed his satisfaction for the recent signing of the defence and military cooperation memorandum for the execution of joint exercises and training with the participation of the Armed Forces of the two states. The two Ministers, as reported, expressed their desire to strengthen and upgrade the cooperation and opportunities emerging in the Middle East and the Arab Gulf region aimed at peace, security and stability in the region.

On the sidelines of his visit to the UAE, Mr. Petridis also met with the Ministers of Defence of Egypt, General Mohammed Ahmed Zaki, of Greece Mr. Nikos Panagiotopoulos, of Serbia Mr. Nebojša Stefanović and of Jordan Lieutenant General Yousef Ahmad Al Hna.

The meetings discussed issues of bilateral and regional defence cooperation and tripartite defence cooperation – issues of mutual interest – as well as ways to further upgrade existing agreements. It is a common belief that peace, security and stability will prevail in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East if there is cooperation.

It is noted that the Chief of General Staff also had meetings with the Military leadership of the UAE and other counterparts from the Gulf countries and the EU.

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