On Wednesday, 8 May 2019, the Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis, in the context of his visit to Cyprus for the 5th Greece-Cyprus Intergovernmental Defence Council, was welcomed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Anastasiadis, with whom they discussed issues of mutual interest and a special reference was made on Turkey’s recent illegal actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Next, the Minister of National Defence met with his counterpart, Mr Savvas Angelides. The two Ministers referred once again to Turkey’s illegal actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. They also discussed issues concerning Greece-Cyprus defence cooperation, at a bilateral and regional level, in the context of the further upgrade of the strategic relation between the two countries. A special reference was made to Greece-Cyprus trilateral cooperations with Israel and Egypt. It was a common understanding that the Intergovernmental Defence Council, combined with the trilateral cooperation groups, develops a special momentum, contributing in the reinforcement of the security and the stability in the wider region of mutual interest.
Afterwards, the two Ministers chaired the works of the 5th Intergovernmental Defence Council, during which, actions were decided regarding further improvement of the interoperability and operational cooperation of Greece-Cyprus Armed Forces and of the bilateral military cooperation.
The Defence Minister of Cyprus Savvas Angelides and the Minister of National Defence Evangelos Apostolakis made the following statements to the journalists.
S. ANGELIDES: “Today’s meeting with my friend, the Greek Minister of National Defence, Mr Apostolakis and his associates was scheduled, in the context of the permanent communication we have, due to the lasting, steady and upgraded relation with Greece. Besides the current issues, the focus of our discussions was the recent matter of the unprecedented violation of our sovereign rights and the international law on behalf of Turkey. Being faithful to our firm policy, with absolute composure, we are not going to drag ourselves to actions that cause tension to the region. Turkey tries to achieve that for many years, in order to disturb stability. But, at the same time, this composure of ours can be taken for weakness.
The message of actions’ coordination, both with Greece and the European Union, as well as with strong third allied countries, has already been sent. The strict EU’s statements, as well as Greece’s, the USA’s, France’s, Russia’s and Egypt’s statements, speak for themselves.
The acknowledgment of the need for a collective response on behalf of the EU, in the framework of the Lisbon Treaty, constitutes the basis for the next steps.
In the conscience of the international community, Greece and Cyprus have become stability and reliability pillars in the region.
As member-states of the EU, we aim at further reinforcing the role that we consciously have undertaken, regarding the bridging and reinforcing of the relations between Europe and the Middle East states.
We keep on working for the establishment of dialogue and cooperation in a spirit of partnership in the region, through the trilateral strategic cooperations that we developed, in the context of the new regional policy that our governments have shaped with allied countries in the region.
We contribute in the promotion of stability, in the handling of challenges in the field of security and in the promotion of the sea and energy security, taking into account the important energy perspectives of the East Mediterranean.
The Republic of Cyprus continues its energy programme without a hitch.
Allow me, Minister, to express our gratitude once more, for the full support on behalf of the Hellenic Government and the Greek people.
Thank you”.
E. APOSTOLAKIS: “We are here today, in fraternal Cyprus, for the 5th Intergovernmental Defence Council. I had the opportunity to meet once again with my friend, the Defence Minister Savvas Angelides, and we realised that through our meetings in this framework, the coordination and cooperation between Greece and Cyprus Armed Forces keep upgrading.
We have completed a great number of joint actions, whereas implementation decisions are in process, which promote this strategic cooperation and improve our effectiveness.
Of course, I had the honour to be received by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, with whom we discussed issues of mutual interest. Especially now, in a period that we experience another provocation on behalf of Turkey: its recent decision to proceed with an illegal drilling in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus.
It is a decision that we have condemned and has caused many reactions at an international level. We support though, the composed and calm stance of Cyprus, and we remain in coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, as well as with the community partners and allies, for taking further actions.
In an unstable and troubled neighbourhood, Cyprus and Greece remain in the focus of the geopolitical and geo-economic developments. In any case, we seek the peace and stability and at the same time, we strongly defend our sovereign rights. Our goal is to serve the international law, the peace, the security, the stability and the cooperation in the region, through the internationally accepted principles.
I am absolutely certain that we will keep on following the achieved momentum of the bilateral defence cooperation, which constitutes the basis for the reinforcement of the fraternal and strategic relation between Greece and Cyprus, as well as the development of broader regional cooperations.
Thank you”.
