Among other things, the report notes that the Green Line provides an important avenue for illicit trafficking of people and drugs. Ending the Cyprus investment program would help prevent terrorists, as well as their sponsors and financiers, from purchasing EU passports, the State Department adds.
The report covers the Republic of Cyprus without mentioning the occupied territories. According to it, the Republic of Cyprus worked closely with the United States, the EU and other countries, both bilaterally and multilaterally, as part of international counterterrorism efforts in 2020.
"Cyprus has continued to make progress in strengthening its banking sector's efforts to combat terrorist financing," the report adds, noting that Cyprus is a member of the Global Coalition against the Islamic State.
The State Department also refers to the Green Line, noting that "it is largely open to civilian crossings and remains a major conduit for the trafficking of people, drugs and other contraband."
It also says the division of the island hinders cooperation between the two communities and between the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey - which, it notes, do not maintain diplomatic relations - on counter-terrorism issues.
There are no reports of terrorist incidents in Cyprus in 2020, it adds. Regarding legislative, law enforcement and border security developments, the report refers to the second anniversary of the signing of the Joint Statement of Intent on Security Cooperation between the US and the Republic of Cyprus, noting that progress is being recorded on all fronts.
It also mentions the fingerprint exchange under the US-Cyprus Agreement on Preventing and Combating Serious Crime, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2020 by Foreign Ministers Mike Pompeo and Nikos Christodoulides on the construction of the Maritime Border, High Seas and Port Security Training Center (CYCLOPS).
Among other things, the report refers to the donation by the US of an underwater camera system to the Port and Maritime Police, mainly for use in the port of Limassol.
"The Republic of Cyprus scrapped its controversial citizenship scheme for investors in October, following revelations by Al Jazeera that showed widespread corruption in the application process. Ending the scheme will help deter terrorists and their sponsors and financiers from buying an EU passport and the enhanced access to EU financial systems that this entails,"
Other developments include the donation of equipment for a mobile laboratory to the Digital Security Authority for forensic analysis and cyber investigations. The report also mentions talks on a bilateral pilot program to improve the Republic of Cyprus' screening of travelers and tracking of criminals and terrorists, as well as opportunities for training.
The report's preamble, which covers counterterrorism efforts internationally, states that in 2020 the United States and its partners took significant steps to combat terrorist organizations, but "the threat of terrorism is geographically dispersed across regions in ΚΥΠΕ
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs
Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or
Source
