Turkey’s expansion policy and general regional developments require immediate and careful moves by Nicosia and Athens, said Defence Minister, Charalambos Petridis, during the 7th Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Defence Council, in the context of permanent, stable and upgraded political cooperation between the two countries in the fields of defence and security.

At the Intergovernmental Council, held via a teleconference, in the presence of the Chiefs of the National Guard General Staff and the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the two Defence Ministers stressed that the Turkish provocations and the questioning of the national sovereign rights of Cyprus and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean require the continuation of constant coordination, vigilance and politico-military cooperation.

The two Ministers reviewed the geopolitical environment of the Eastern Mediterranean and the role played by Cyprus and Greece, contributing to the stability of the region along with friendly countries. Mr. Petridis referred to the bilateral and trilateral cooperation that the two countries are developing and congratulated his counterpart on a transnational agreement between Greece and France for the acquisition of modern RAFALE fighter jets.

Both Ministers expressed their gratitude and thanks to the personnel of the Armed Forces of Cyprus and Greece for their continued readiness and professionalism during the past months and in particular the period when Turkish provocation had intensified in the Cypriot EEZ, the Greek EEZ and the continental shelf.

The 7th Intergovernmental Defence Council also looked into a number of issues related to the bilateral defence cooperation of Cyprus and Greece and issues related to the further development of multilateral cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean, the strengthening of cooperation in EU research and innovation programs, noting that Cyprus and Greece are among the countries that participate in most of the EU’s Permanent and Structured Cooperation programs (PESCO).

During the council, extended talks were held with the participation of delegations from the two Ministries and the General Staffs of the National Guard General Staff  and the Hellenic National Guard General Staff. Issues of bilateral relations were discussed in terms of regional cooperation and security, defence diplomacy and military operational programs – exercises, coordination and cooperation, energy security as well as progress on issues of common interest.

Issues of strategic cooperation between the two countries will be discussed during the upcoming official visit of the Minister of Defence to Athens on February 16 at the invitation of his Greek counterpart.

Also read: Defence diplomacy and joint actions at the 7th Cyprus-Greece Defence Council