CNA
Cyprus, Greece and Israel, in a joint declaration approved on Thursday, following a Trilateral Defence Ministers meeting in Nicosia, condemned “any actions that do not comply with the International law, and undermine regional peace and stability,” stressing their will to intensify their defence cooperation, including examining collaboration in in a 3+1 format with countries with a keen interest for defence and security developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, such the USA.
“We stress that, in order to maintain peace and security in the region, good neighborly relations and cooperation must prevail, on the basis of International Law and respecting UNSC Resolutions,” the declaration reads, stressing that “in this framework, we condemn any actions that do not comply with the International law, and undermine regional peace and stability, undertaken by countries or non-state actors. We welcomed the recent, historic, political developments in the region which will contribute for achieving peace, stability and regional cooperation.”
Charalambos Petrides, the Cypriot Defence Minister and his Greek and Israeli counterparts, Nikos Panagiotopoloulos and Beni Gantz, respectively, agreed to hold the next Trilateral Defence Ministers meeting in Israel next year.
In the ten-point joint declaration, the three Defence Ministers state that “our countries are determined to further enhance their robust, ambitious and strategic partnership in the domains of defence and security which aims to foster regional cooperation and partnership and jointly address common challenges and threats.”
“Our shared values, the respect for international law and our commitment for a stable, secure and prosperous Eastern Mediterranean are core pillars of our partnership,” they said.
Furthermore, the three Ministers also noted they “agreed to intensify our defence cooperation mechanisms in order to promote stability and security in the region, including, through examining possible collaboration in a 3+1 format, with partner countries which share the same values and maintain a keen interest for the defence and security developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, such as the United States of America.”
“We remain committed for further advancing our trilateral defence and security cooperation, inter alia, through our agreed annual programme of trilateral activities, notably in the areas of regular coordination on issues of mutual interest, strategic consultations, maritime security, energy security, cyber security and defence related research and development,” they stated.
In his opening remarks, Petrides said that today`s meeting expresses the common will of our countries to continue their cooperation in the fields of Security and Defence with the aim of promoting peace, stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“Our goal is to demonstrate the mutual benefit of good neighbourly relations, when they are based on respect for international law, as well as achieve the necessary security conditions for the synergies that have emerged from the energy prospects of the Eastern Mediterranean,” he added.
Petrides said both he and Panagiotopoulos informed their Israeli counterpart on “the provocative actions of Turkey in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Cyprus, in the Mediterranean maritime zones and the Aegean, where Ankara continues illegal drillings and seismic surveys.”
He moreover said that he informed the Greek and Israeli Ministers “on the illegal Turkish actions as concerns the fenced – off city of Varosha, which violate the UN Security Council resolutions; actions that undermine the Secretary -General`s efforts to resume negotiations that aim to reunify Cyprus on the basis of the agreed framework.”
On his part, Panagiotopoulos said that “it is common goal to implement a long-term, coherent, and substantial strategic cooperation, in accordance with the International Law and the principles of good neighbourly relations with all the countries of the region.”
“We also agreed to further develop our now institutionalised Trilateral Cooperation, thus sending strong and clear signals, as well as to explore the possibility of expanding it in a “3+” format with the participation of other countries, with which we share the same values and aspirations for the future of our wider region,” he said, adding “in this context, the United States are of course included, as their presence is of particular importance for the security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
The Greek Minister also said he “underlined that we condemn Turkey’s illegal, provocative and unilateral actions in the maritime zones of Greece and Cyprus, which constitute a flagrant violation of the international law of good neighbourhood Relations and undermine regional stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
In his remarks, Benny Gantz said that “today marks another important milestone in the trilateral partnership between Israel, Cyprus and Greece, as we enter into meaningful dialogue to discuss issues of mutual concern to our countries.”
“Our partnership”, he added, “is based on a shared commitment to promoting stability, collaboration and peace across the Mediterranean, as well as on the warm ties between our peoples- all of whom descend from ancient civilizations and carry a legacy of democracy and progress.”
Stating that he is “personally committed to promoting our defense and state ties even further. I believe that our advanced technologies, fast testing, and good relations can help us quickly restart the regular thriving tourism and economic cooperation between our countries,” Gantz said and noted that he intends “to allocate the resources needed to put our collaboration back on track.”
