The Republic of Cyprus will utilise the decision taken by the EU General Affairs Council in conjunction with the recent US decision for Cyprus' access to American military equipment, President Nikos Christodoulides has said.
In statements to the press on 28 May, arriving at an event organised by the Cyprus Basketball Federation, the President was asked about the 27 May decision on SAFE, which is a defence lending programme.
More specifically, SAFE is a new EU financial instrument that will support EU member states to invest in defence industrial production.
He hailed the substantive decision taken by the EU, explaining that there were many decisions over the last 7-8 years for specific actions. The President said that this is a €150 billion package which the Republic of Cyprus will utilise in conjunction with the recent US decision which gives us access to American military equipment. The decision will make most of the Cypriot defence industry which is very promising, the President went on to say.
He explained that in the immediate future, together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Justice and Finance, they will take final decisions regarding both defence equipment and infrastructure that is of particular importance, in particular the ''Andreas Papandreou Air Base'' and the ''Evangelos Florakis Naval Base''.
He described SAFE as a tool that will be used by Cyprus, adding that recently the European Investment Bank decided to include defence infrastructure and more generally issues of strengthening the deterrent power of EU member states.
Invited to comment on the Turkish President's statements for getting the advantage of SAFE in return for the resumption of Cyprus peace talks, the President of the Republic said that any participation of a third country presupposes an EU defence agreement with the particular third country, via a unanimous vote.
He continued by saying that if Turkey means what it says in relation to the strengthening of Euro-Turkish relations, "we are here to examine everything with a positive approach."
The President added that what is in our interest is to create the conditions for the resumption of talks on the basis of the agreed framework for a solution that respects the principles and values of the EU.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
UN Secretary General announced that an informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format will be held at the end of July, following a similar meeting in Geneva, on 17-18 March. The two sides agreed to proceed with a number of initiatives, involving the opening of crossing points, the creation of a Technical Committee on Youth and other initiatives in the buffer zone and throughout the island.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced in early May the appointment of María Angela Holguín Cuéllar of Colombia as his Personal Envoy on Cyprus, who is tasked to reengage with the parties in order to work on next steps on the Cyprus issue and advise him. Holguín completed a previous assignment as Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General on Cyprus from January to July 2024.
The European Commission designated Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus to contribute to the settlement process, in close cooperation with Holguín.
(Source: CNA)
