Greece and Cyprus have agreed to strengthen further their joint armament programmes with the aim to exploit the opportunities offered for synergies and funding in the framework of PESCO.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the Cypriot Minister of Defence Christoforos Fokaides and Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos in Nicosia.

A joint communique issued by the ministries said that a permanent technical committee will be set up for this purpose between the two ministries.

Fokaides and Kammenos discussed bilateral and European interest issues as well as initiatives which they undertake on a regional level.

The two reviewed developments regarding the operation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and especially the need to secure unanimity for the participation of third countries in individual programmes.

The adoption of programmes of particular national interest for Cyprus and Greece, such as maritime surveillance, cyber-threat management, crisis management, and other concerns, is also positive at a first stage, the communique said. Greece and Cyprus coordinate their moves to take advantage of opportunities created at both the political as well as the operational levels in the context of a new European Defence Union.

The communique also added that following the successful tripartite meeting of the defence ministers with Egypt on Thursday as well as the tripartite talks with Israel, it was decided that in consultation with third friendly countries to organise new tripartite defence ministerial meetings at a regional level to promote a stability and security network in the wider region.
CNA/EC/MM/2017
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY