Nicosia and Athens need to carefully examine their steps to face Turkey`s aggression and the regional developments, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said, during the 7th Intergovernmental Defence Council between Cyprus and Greece that took place on Thursday, with his Greek counterpart Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos.

The Council, via a videoconference, examined the bilateral relations with regard to regional cooperation and security, defence diplomacy and military operational programmes – exercises as well as other joint actions and issues of common interest,.

The Council took place in the presence of the two countries` Chiefs of Staff and other military officials.

The two Ministers agreed that Cyprus and Greece play a role in the region as pillars of stability and reviewed their cooperation with other countries. They also expressed their gratitude to the military staff who defend the two countries` sovereign rights in the Eastern Mediterranean.