The Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, participated in the 4th Tripartite Meeting with the Minister of National Defence of Cyprus, Mr. Charalambos Petridis and the Minister of National Defence of Egypt, Mr. Mohamed Zaki that took place in Nicosia today.
At their meeting, the Ministers of Defence reaffirmed the strong ties between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt that are founded on common principles and a shared vision for creating an environment of stability, security and well-being in the wider area of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, as well as their decision on further strengthening their cooperation to deal with any threat.
The common goal of all three countries is to implement a long-term, coherent and effective strategic cooperation, in accordance with the international law and the principles of good neighbourly relations with all countries in the region.
In the Joint Statement of the Tripartite Meeting, the Ministers condemned unilateral actions that violate a country’s sovereign rights and stressed the obligation to respect the International Law and the Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Minister of National Defence expressed confidence that the further strengthening and broadening of the Tripartite Cooperation through the participation of other countries as well in joint actions with military means, personnel but also observers, will assist in the pursuits of the Tripartite cooperation and will contribute to security and stability in the wider region.
At the end of the Tripartite Meeting of the Ministers, the Greek Minister stated the following:
«Ministers,
It is a great honour and pleasure to be here in Nicosia with my distinguished friends and colleagues, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Charalambos Petrisi and the Minister of Defence of the Arab Republic of Egypt, General Mohamed Zaki, on the occasion of our Tripartite Meeting.
The strong ties between our countries are founded on common principles and values, whereas we share a common vision and pursuit to create an environment and conditions of stability, security and well-being in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Our common aim is to implement a long-term, coherent and effective strategic cooperation, in accordance with the International Law and the principles of good neighbourly relations with all countries in the region.
Today we were given the opportunity to discuss on the recent developments in the region, as well as on the progress of our cooperation in the defence – technical sector.
We systematically seek to enhance the interoperability of our Armed Forces and to exploit to a full extent our countries’ capabilities and comparative advantages in areas of mutual interest, such as for instance through joint training opportunities, but also through mutually beneficial joint exercises.
We discussed with my distinguished colleague Ministers about the serious threats and security challenges in the wider region. We underlined our joint commitment and determination to enhance and intensify the cooperation between our countries’ Armed Forces with a view to addressing any threat effectively.
Once again, we condemn Turkey’s unlawful, provocative and unilateral actions in the marine areas of Greece and Cyprus that constitute a flagrant violation of International Law and good neighbourly relations, but we also condemn the undermining of regional stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Moreover, we agreed on further strengthening and broadening our established Tripartite cooperation, thus sending a powerful and clear message to everyone, as well as on extending the possibility of involvement of other countries as well, with whom we share the same values and pursuits for a peaceful future in the wider region, as well as for our people’s prosperity.
Concluding, I would like to thank the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Cyprus and dear friend, Mr. Charalambos Petridis for the warm welcome and the warmhearted hospitality and I would like to stress that we are very much looking forward to our next Tripartite Meeting in 2022 in Egypt, which will be an important new milestone in the cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt.
Thank you».
Within the framework of Mr. Panagiotopoulos’ visit to Cyprus, bilateral meetings between delegations of Greece – Cyprus and Greece – Egypt will take place tomorrow, Thursday 20 May 2021.
