Minister of Defence Vassilis Palmas said on Wednesday that the cooperation with Armenia is excellent and expressed the gratitude of Cyprus for the support of Armenia, in all international and regional organisations, for the solution of the Cyprus issue based on the UN resolutions. Palmas, who is paying the country an official visit, held a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan expressing Nicosia's support to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of Armenia's borders, as well as to Armenia's efforts to establish closer ties with the European Union. According to a press release issued by the Defence Ministry, during the meeting the two Ministers reaffirmed the excellent relations between Cyprus and Armenia and the historical ties between the two peoples, as well as the excellent cooperation within the tripartite meetings of the two countries with Greece, in the fields of defence and security The two Ministers discussed about international developments, the security situatio n in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region and the consequences of the ongoing conflict in Israel and the escalation of the situation in Lebanon. They also discussed the security situation more broadly in the Caucasus region and specifically in Armenia. Palmas referred to Cyprus' role in the region and its contribution to the efforts to evacuate citizens and referred to Nicosia's initiative to create a sea corridor to facilitate the transport of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He also informed his counterpart about the violations in the buffer zone of Cyprus, underlining the common challenges of the two peoples. Armenia's Minister of Defence, informed Palmas about the challenges that the government of Armenia has to face, after the military attack of Azerbaijan against the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh. During their meeting, they reviewed bilateral cooperation in the fields of defence and security and reaffirmed the common intention to further deepen the existing cooperation. The Cypriot Minister sa id after the meeting that this visit is tangible proof of the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between Cyprus and Armenia. "Our states share a rich history, common cultural heritage and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by small states, which are determined to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity. The operation of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus in Armenia is the culmination and the confirmation of the relations between the two countries," he said. He noted that Cyprus and Armenia have developed a substantial and constantly evolving cooperation in the fields of security and defence. This cooperation, Palmas added, includes visits by military personnel, joint trainings and exercises as well as cooperation in the field of defence procurement. Through the above actions, he said, interoperability between our armed forces has been strengthened, while at the same time mutual respect and mutual understanding has developed. "Our cooperation is excellent. There ar e certainly huge possibilities to further strengthen it, such as the expansion of joint military exercises, the exploration of new areas of cooperation in defence technology and the cooperation between the defense and security academies" the Minister pointed out. In addition, he said, they discussed the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region, as well as in the Caucasus region and the challenges, as well prospects of Armenia for a closer relationship with the European Union. Regarding the Eastern Mediterranean, Palmas said that it is an area of intense geopolitical realignment and that unilateral actions that violate International Law and sovereign rights are aimed at exacerbating tensions and preventing regional cooperation. He said that Cyprus strongly supports the peaceful resolution of all disputes, in accordance with the provisions of international law and the principles of good neighbourly relations. "We believe that dialogue and relations of mutual trust are essential tools for achi eving lasting peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean. Cyprus remains committed, as a pillar of stability, and contributes to regional efforts aimed at building trust and understanding," he pointed out. Regarding the Cyprus issue, Palmas expressed Cyprus' gratitude for Armenia's support, in all international and regional organisations, for the solution of the Cyprus issue based on the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. He said he informed his counterpart about "the security situation in Cyprus and about Turkey's efforts to instrumentalise illegal migration flows. In recent years, Turkey has followed a revisionist foreign policy, combined with an aggressive rhetoric, which threatens the stability and security in Cyprus and in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean" he underlined. Referring to Armenia, the Minister of Defence said that Nicosia supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of Armenia's borders, adding that improving the climate and a sustai nable resolution of the conflict is necessary to ensure lasting peace, security and prosperity for all. He said that Cyprus will continue to support Armenia's efforts to have closer ties with the European Union. "We believe that Armenia's commitment to democratic reforms, rule of law and good governance is fully aligned with the core values of the European Union. Armenia within the European framework will contribute to regional security and prosperity," he concluded. During his visit, Palmas also had a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, with whom they discussed, among other things, issues related to bilateral cooperation, as well as political developments in the region. Source: Cyprus News Agency
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