Cyprus’ Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides called on his EU counterparts to declare the Eastern Mediterranean as a region of maritime interest, warranting coordinated and constant presence in the area by EU member-states, at the backdrop of continued Turkish provocations that escalate tensions in the region.
According to a press release issued by the Cyprus Defence Ministry, Petrides took part in the EU Defence Ministers Council, held on Wednesday in Berlin.
Speaking at the meeting, Petrides said the situation on the ground requires that the Eastern Mediterranean is immediately declared as a region of EU maritime interest with coordinated and continued maritime presence of the EU member-states in the region.
“Cooperation with the Union’s partners should not be conducted against the interests of the EU and its member-states,” Petrides told his EU counterparts, criticizing Turkey’s aggressive actions in the region.
Speaking to CNA, Petrides said that he conveyed at the meeting Cyprus’ readiness to contribute to the development of cooperation between the EU and states of the Eastern Mediterranean, with which Cyprus maintains excellent relations and extensive cooperation.
The Cypriot Minister also expressed Cyprus’ support to the EU strategic compass, stressing the EU Treaty’s mutual assistance clause should be incorporated in this strategy.
Furthermore, on the sidelines of the Council, Petrides met with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp Karrenbauer and agreed on upgrading bilateral relations in the field of Defence and Security between the two countries.
He also met with Lorenzo Guerini, the Italian Defence Minister with whom he discussed the progress of the quadrilateral initiative between Cyprus, Greece, Italy and France aiming to enhance their marine and aerial presence in the region.
The initiative got underway with a four-day drill called “Evnomia” which began yesterday off the southern coast of Cyprus involving naval and aerial assets by the four countries.