Police Chief Zacharias Chrysostomou, French Ambassador to Cyprus René Troccaz and French Coast Guard Commander Christophe Boyer expressed on Wednesday their will to further enhance cooperation between the Cyprus Police and the French Coast Guard.

According to a Police press release, the three officials had a meeting during which they discussed, among other issues, the preparation and conclusion of a cooperation memorandum between the Port and Marine Police and the French Coast Guard.

Speaking during the meeting, Chrysostomou praised the excellent and long-standing cooperation between the Cyprus Police and the French authorities, making special reference, inter alia, to terrorism, international organised crime, trafficking and immigration as well as to the exchange of knowledge and expertise during recent and forthcoming international training programmes.

Furthermore, he stressed that the government contributes to the efforts made by the Police of Cyprus to strengthen the International Police Cooperation by promoting the creation of a Cypriot Coast Guard, through the unification of the current Port and Marine Police and the Aviation Unit with other competent state services, with a view to implement a comprehensive mechanism for the protection of the Republic`s borders.

On his side, the French Ambassador thanked the Police Chief for the meeting and praised the cooperation between Cyprus and France, which he described as very important for his country.

He also referred to further strengthening this cooperation, through the forthcoming conclusion of a memorandum of cooperation between the Port and Marine Police and the French Coast Guard.

Boyer referred to the excellent cooperation between the two units and thanked the Port and Marine Police Commander Yiannakis Georgiou for this cooperation.