Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas conveyed on Thursday Nicosia’s wish to see more interest on the part of the European Union over the Cyprus issue.
Speaking on the sidelines of a military exercise at Kalo Chorio Shooting Range, in Larnaca District, Palmas also replied to reactions from Turkey to a bilateral Cyprus-France agreement, saying that the Republic of Cyprus is an independent state recognized by all international organisations, noting that it is legitimate to enter into cooperation and sign agreements.
Responding to a comment that the European Union should be more involved in efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue, he noted that Europeans are aware of the Cyprus problem. ‘We would like more interest and more involvement on their part, but international relations on our planet are also shaped based on the national and interstate interests of the member states,’ he added.
‘Since there are bilateral and other interests, our field of action is at a level where we are really fighting to be able to convey our views, our positions and the injustice that Cyprus is suffering’, Palmas pointed out.
Referring to the signing of a military agreement with France, the Minister of Defence noted that ‘in order to be able to sign such a military agreement, first excellent political relations need to prevail between the states that sign this agreement.’
“Therefore, within the framework of this excellent political relationship that the Government and the President of the Republic have developed with various states of the international community, we were able to sign an agreement that has mutual respect and a mutual content in matters concerning joint exercises, joint training, exchange of information on various issues related to the security of both countries and of course other issues that make life easier for all those participating in various activities related to the bilateral relationship in this agreement,” he explained.
When asked if there will be any joint exercises soon, Palmas said yes, noting that the National Guard carries out exercises at a bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral level, as well as exercises that contribute to extroversion and knowledge of the broader environment of military issues concerning the international community.
Referring to the SAFE programme, the Minister of Defence stated that ‘we are in the six months during which we will draw the first funds from the SAFE regulation, which we signed and for which we got approval by the member states of the European Commission in order to be able to participate in this regulation.’
Responding to another question, Vasilis Palmas stated that ‘there are bilateral collaborations and relations with many other countries, with which we have signed cooperation agreements. However, this cooperation with France, because it is combined with our excellent political relationship, allows us to have an agreement that is on a different level than some other agreements that we may sign with another state.’
Asked to comment on the Turkish President’s reaction to the Cyprus-France Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the Minister of Defence pointed out that ‘the Republic of Cyprus is an independent state recognised by all international organisations and is legitimate to enter into cooperation and sign agreements’. ‘At the same time’, he continued, ‘Turkey should finally do its self-criticism after 52 years in order to create the conditions (for lifting) the illegality, occupation and invasion on its part for a comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus problem.’
Responding to a question about the presence of Greek aircraft in Cyprus, Vasilis Palmas said that ‘every day the General Staff of the National Guard at an operational level and the Ministry of Defence at a political level evaluate the overall situation we have in the region geographically, geopolitically, politically and operationally and depending on the conditions and data that are created daily, we also adapt the security and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus’.
‘Whatever changes, and if it needs to change, will always be in consultation with the Greek Government’, he underlined.
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.