-
.
- Русский
Defence Minister Michael Yiorgallas, who is in Brussels to participate in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union in the composition of Defence Ministers, made the following statement:
"I participated today in the meeting of Defence Ministers. Cyprus is a strong supporter of the European Defence Agency and participates in European capacity building programmes.
Cyprus is a strong supporter of the Agency and participates in European capacity building programmes. In my intervention I welcomed the work of the Agency and its leading role in the implementation of the joint defence equipment procurement programme, in which we as the Republic of Cyprus participate. I informed our partners that the defence budget in Cyprus is maintained at a high level of two per cent of GDP. A significant share is allocated for armament and capability development programmes, thus supporting the domestic and European defence industry.
During the work of the Council of Defence Ministers, we discussed the developments of the war in Ukraine. For our part, we reiterated our solidarity with Ukraine and informed about the successful training of Ukrainians in explosive ordnance disposal and demining, which is being conducted in Cyprus in the framework of the EUMAM Ukraine (EU Military Assistance Mission).
In the last part of the meeting, in the presence of the NATO Secretary General, there was an exchange of views, in addition to the Ukrainian one, on issues related to cooperation between the two organisations in areas such as maritime security and cyberspace. We noted that cooperation should be inclusive and that the European Union should redefine its maritime security strategy in the Mediterranean regarding attempts to undermine international law and challenge the sovereign rights of its member states."
(NG)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
