Cyprus and Greece commit to Eastern Med security

Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas stressed the joint commitment of Cyprus and Greece to make every possible effort to maintain peace, security, stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the continuous pursuit of more effective cooperation between them, in his remarks following his meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias on Monday in Nicosia.

For his part, Dendias said that the two countries are working, as pillars of stability, to de-escalate tensions in the wider region and contribute to the effort to ensure freedom of navigation and protect European economies, adding that Operation Amalthea demonstrates the primary role that the RoC can play in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He also underlined Greece's long-standing support for the achievement of a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem based on the UN Security Council resolutions and compatible with the European acquis.

July 15 is a day of remembrance of the devastation and destruction suffered by our homeland, a day of remembrance and honour for those who fell in the effort to defend democracy and reflection and admission of past mistakes, Palmas said in his speech.

Thanking the Greek Minister for his visit, he said that his presence in Cyprus today, as well as the very frequent communication between them, is another proof of the excellent cooperation between the two countries on issues related to defence and security.

The stable and sincere cooperation between Cyprus and Greece has always been a key component of the Republic of Cyprus's policy, he said and also thanked his counterpart for a very interesting, substantive and constructive discussion on a wide range of issues, as well as the contribution of the Greek Government to the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem and to promote stability, peace and security in the region through dialogue and important initiatives.

According to the Defence Minister, during the meeting he had the opportunity to brief Dendias on the security situation in the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey's continued intransigent revisionist policy, adding that despite the obstacles, the Cypriot Government is making every effort to return to the talks process on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

He said the two men also reviewed issues raised at the November 2023 Intergovernmental Meeting in Athens, while they set goals and perspectives on issues related to bilateral defence and military cooperation, and existing trilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements signed with other countries.

In the volatile geopolitical environment of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, the Republic of Cyprus and Greece, with respect to international law, with identical views and approaches and with mutual appreciation and trust, jointly face any challenges, he continued, adding that the RoC is making every effort to defend its national independence, territorial integrity and inalienable sovereign rights, as well as to achieve conditions of stability and cooperation and mitigate problems in the region.

He added that in this context, the Government of Cyprus, due to its proximity and its excellent relations with regional actors, has taken initiatives in the effort to resolve problems in order to help address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He also said that with the establishment of the sea corridor for the unimpeded and safe delivery of humanitarian aid with final destination in Gaza, more than eight thousand tons of humanitarian aid have been transported so far, adding that the contribution of the Greek Government has been significant in the effort to implement the Plan.

Concluding, the Defence Minister said that he congratulated Dendias for Greece's initiative to take over the management of Operation Aspides, which has made the European presence in the Red Sea region stronger.

He added that the developments are of particular concern to the RoC and expressed readiness to cooperate with EU member states to ensure freedom of navigation and the maintenance of open trade routes and supply lines, noting in this context that the Ministry of Defence is participating with two officers in the Operational Headquarters in Larissa, which, after consultation with Dendias, he plans to visit in the coming period.

"Reiterating as a given our joint commitment to make every possible effort to maintain peace, security, stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean environment, I assure you that we will continue to seek more effective cooperation between us in the future," he concluded.

For his part, Nikos Dendias said that today marks 50 years since July 15, 1974, the date of the junta coup in Cyprus that opened a door to the "lurking invader."

The Greek Junta which backed the coup in Cyprus, on July 15, 1974, against President Makarios, collapsed following a seven-year rule with Turkey’s invasion in Cyprus, a few days later, on July 20. Democracy in Greece was reinstated on July 24, 1974. Turkey occupies the island’s northern third ever since.

"I express my deepest respect and patriotic gratitude to the Cypriot and Greek fighters of democracy and the unequal fight of 1974 against the invasion. They faced far superior military forces under the weight of the fratricidal criminal coup. We remember them with respect, we value their contribution over time. And of course we condemn in the strongest possible terms the Turkish Cypriot fiestas of shame and the disrespectful illegal presence of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus for half a century," he said.

According to the Greek Minister, today's visit provides an opportunity to expand the solid foundations on which the defence relations between Cyprus and Greece are built, adding that he would also be received by the President of the Republic and Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus.

"The message is always clear, our relationship is inextricably linked with respect for the United Nations Charter, international law, the international law of the sea and the absolute condemnation of the use of force or the threat of use of force. And I would like to say here that Greece is in no way indifferent to threats against Cyprus from wherever they come from, whether from states or terrorist organizations that claim a role in international affairs with the help of illegal missile arsenals," he said.

He also said that together with Palmas they underlined the need to further deepen bilateral defence relations within the European Union, as well as within other trilateral and multilateral formations where the two countries participate, and shared the view that the European Union must create a strong defence arm capable of defending first of all the single European space, but also all that this space expresses, democracy, freedom, international law, the European acquis and the protection of human rights.

He added that they also underlined the need to create a defence arm with a unified defence ecosystem to support this arm. "I want to say that the Hellenic Centre for Defence Innovation with only a few months of life has already taken significant steps in this direction, the creation of a defence innovation ecosystem. This ecosystem is open to friendly countries and of course more open than in any other case to the Republic of Cyprus," he added.

Subsequently, Dendias said that he briefed his Cypriot counterpart on Agenda 2030, the biggest reform, according to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of the Greek armed forces ever undertaken, adding that when it is completed, Hellenism will have the most powerful armed forces in its long history and will be happy to share with Cyprus the lessons learned from these reforms.

On his briefing on the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, Dendias said that he underlined Greece's "long-standing, absolute, non-negotiable support" for the achievement of a just and viable solution outlined in the UN Security Council resolutions, a bizonal, bicommunal federation, always compatible with the European acquis.

"And of course from Nicosia, I can only say that it is unacceptable that a European capital, the capital of a country that is a member of the European Union, a member of the United Nations, remains divided for half a century, that there are green lines or of any other colour. And of course it is not permissible to violate international law and the United Nations Charter for 50 years," he said.

He also said that the two ministers exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and the Red Sea and that as pillars of stability and security, both countries are working together to de-escalate tensions in the region, participating in Aspides, the largest naval operation of a defensive nature that the European Union has carried out in its history, contributing to the effort to ensure freedom of navigation, protecting the ships and the lives of the seafarers serving on them, protecting the freedom of navigation, but also the economies and the quality of life of the citizens.

Regarding Operation Amalthea, he said that it highlights the primary role that the Republic of Cyprus can play in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza by doing what is necessary to create a maritime humanitarian corridor, and expressed Greece's readiness to assist with ships of the Greek fleet to transport food and necessities to Gaza to bring relief to the Palestinian people.

"The unity of Hellenism is a necessary condition for national survival. Division, known to us Greeks historically, has always haunted us, is a sufficient condition of national disaster. History has proven both of the above and today's anniversary reminds us of this in the most tragic way", Dendias concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres appointed María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his personal envoy for Cyprus, to assume a Good Offices role on his behalf and search for common ground on the way forward in the Cyprus issue.