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I am particularly pleased to welcome today's ceremony for the presentation of the three Class B vessels that have been added to the naval fleet of the Port and Maritime Police.
A very important addition which will contribute to strengthening the surveillance and protection of the coastline, ports and territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, especially in this difficult period of increased tensions in the geographical area of our country and increased migratory flows by sea.
The effort to acquire the three vessels started in 2020 and was implemented under the Internal Security Fund and the Border Management and Visa Policy Financial Support Instrument, co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Republic of Cyprus. Allow me at this point to thank and congratulate all those who contributed to this effort.
The Port and Maritime Police, with the number of its vessels and the arrangement of its units, is today the spearhead for the surveillance, control and guarding of the coastline and the external maritime borders that identify with the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, particularly in relation to the prevention and suppression of illegal and/or irregular trafficking of persons and cross-border crime, the policing of the coastline and the territorial waters of the Republic to deter illegal activities, as well as the strengthening of the State mechanism for the surveillance and protection of the port infrastructure and serviced/interconnected ships and vessels against asymmetric threats and terrorist attacks.
At the same time, the Port and Maritime Police is the key tool for conducting maritime search and rescue operations both near the coast and on the high seas. Port and Maritime Police vessels are usually the first to respond to maritime accidents, as vessels and crews are on standby 24 hours a day.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The protection of the maritime borders and the exclusive economic zone of our country is shielded even further from any potential danger and threat with the addition of the three new vessels which are equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and communication systems and have thermal cameras, which can detect man and vessel at a distance of several kilometres.
In addition, these operational capabilities of the vessels will enhance and upgrade the National Coordination Centre (NCC) for compliance purposes with the European Eurosur system for border surveillance, prevention of cross-border crime and suppression of illegal immigration as part of the Republic of Cyprus' priorities.
Dear friends,
The Port and Maritime Police do a lot. It defends and monitors the maritime borders of our country, the maritime borders of the EU. It does so with determination but also with human sensitivity, respecting human life at sea and always behaving in accordance with international and European rules.
I would like to wish the new vessels, as well as all the vessels of the Port and Maritime Police, to be in good condition and for their crews to have calm seas.
I am sure that the upgrading and strengthening of the floating and other means and equipment of the Port and Maritime Police, combined with the continuous training and the high sense of responsibility of its Members, will contribute to the creation of a modern Unit which will be able to respond to any incident, however difficult it may be, at any time, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
I will close by assuring you that the State's effort to further strengthen and modernize the Port and Maritime Police and the Police in general, both in terms of manpower, resources and equipment, will be continuous.
Thank you.
(MS/MS)
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