National Guard Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Georgios Basiakoulis has briefed EU Chiefs of Defence on the situation in Cyprus` exclusive economic zone and Turkey’s illegal and provocative actions.
The briefing took place in Brussels in the context of the EU Military Committee Conference on an army chief level, on the sidelines of which Lieutenant General Basiakoulis held a series of bilateral contacts.
The session was addressed by new High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who shared her views on EU security and defence policy matters.
The Chiefs of Defence discussed transitional strategies after the completion of EU missions to a geographical area, exchanged views on the role of armed forces in the framework of the European Strategy for Maritime Security, the creation of a Single European Sky, and the Political Framework for systematic and long-term defence cooperation, and were briefed on the military operations and missions in the framework of the Common Defence and Security Policy.
Elections were also held for the new President of the Military Committee, a position to which Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, General Michail Kostarakos, was elected. General Kostarakos will be assuming the Presidency of the Military Committee on November 6, 2015, for a three-year term.
Turkish seismic exploration vessel Barbaros entered Cyprus` exclusive economic zone a few days after Turkey issued an illegal maritime order (NAVTEX) for the area. Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.