Cyprus defense minister comments on relations with Turkey — Cyprus Mail
Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas said that Cyprus, Greece and Israel, in addition to defense cooperation, share one feature: they do not have good relations with Turkey. He said this after signing a memorandum of cooperation between the Cypriot Ministry of Defense and the country’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Cyprus Mail reports.
Defense cooperation
According to Palmas, the three countries use the same defense weapons system, which ensures their interoperability. He called this a positive factor for the geopolitical security of the wider region.
Speaking about the rivalry between Turkey and Israel in the Levant, the minister said that tensions between them are intensifying every day. Asked about Cyprus potentially joining the bilateral Achilles Shield defense agreement between Greece and Israel, he replied that it remains an agreement exclusively between those two countries.
Palmas described Cyprus as a democratic and peaceful country that does not take part in incidents related to armed conflicts. At the same time, he said that the country is under occupation and therefore must ensure the highest possible level of threat deterrence.
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Parade and meeting in Cairo
The minister confirmed that the military parade for Cyprus Independence Day on October 1 will be revamped and will differ from previous ones. The Israeli-made Barak MX air defense system possessed by Cyprus is expected to be publicly displayed for the first time.
A Greek delegation led by Defense Minister Nikos Dendias and representatives of the Egyptian armed forces are also expected to take part in the parade. Before that, Palmas is due to visit Cairo for a trilateral meeting with his Greek and Egyptian counterparts.
Separately, the minister spoke about ongoing violations of the Nicosia flight information region by Turkish aircraft and also commented on reports of pursuits involving Greek fighter jets and passenger planes. According to him, Cyprus is taking the necessary measures but does not want the situation to develop in a dangerous direction.
Palmas also said that the United States’ extension for another year of the lifting of the arms supply embargo will make it possible to implement existing agreements. Among them, he named the modernization of the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos and the purchase of around 40 Hummer military vehicles.
