The need to strengthen the EU's defense and security and Greece's contribution to strengthening the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus were at the center of the meeting between the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Minister of National Defense of Greece, Nikos Dendias.
According to a statement from the Presidency, speaking at the start of the meeting, the President of the Republic noted that he was coming from an informal European Council, where serious decisions were taken regarding the need to strengthen the EU's defense and security.
He added that these important decisions will be formalized in the context of the next European Council, in relation to the need for the EU to assume responsibility for the defense of its member states, which is its exclusive responsibility. He added that this must also be done in the context of achieving the goals of strategic autonomy and strengthening the EU's geostrategic role.
"The two countries participated in sending a letter to the European Investment Bank on the issue of defense spending, and in this context I look forward to our discussion," the President told Mr. Dendias.
He also noted the immediate goals of the Republic of Cyprus, which are the expansion of the 'Andreas Papandreou' Air Base and the upgrading of the 'Evangelos Florakis' Naval Base. He also said that he wishes to discuss some other armament issues.
"And in this effort, we look forward to your help, as always, so that we can achieve our clear goal: strengthening the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus," said President Christodoulides.
He added that this pursuit does not only concern the more than 50 years of occupation in Cyprus, but also takes into account developments in the Cyprus region.
"We launched several efforts together then in relation to strengthening regional cooperation that we see today as involving very sound initiatives that were undertaken, so that today we are able to face all these challenges," said the President of the Republic.
For his part, Mr. Dendias said, among other things, that he had a long and substantive discussion with his Cypriot counterpart, congratulating the President of the Republic for what has been achieved during his time, particularly highlighting the new US initiative in relation to American material, but also for the President's efforts to reposition the Cyprus problem "on the tracks set by the UN decisions."
He added that on the issue of strengthening defense and security, “the EU’s approach in the past was schizophrenic, imposing very narrow budgetary limits on defense spending.” He also said that defense autonomy, which everyone wants, cannot be achieved within this narrow framework and expressed hope that the EU has returned to the rule of reason.
He also pointed out that he co-signs what the President of the Republic said about the need for Europe to be able to defend its space, noting that "to reassure our transatlantic friends, I say that this is not something inconsistent with our own obligations in the North Atlantic Treaty, but absolutely compatible and useful."
Mr. Dendias was accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Vassilis Palmas.
