Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides said on Thursday that he and his French counterpart Florence Parly had signed a letter of intent to cooperate to strengthen Cyprus's naval capabilities and strategic partnership in the interests of the two countries' naval forces, which also implies the modernization of Evangelos Florakis Naval Base
ATHENS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2019) Cypriot Defense Minister Savvas Angelides said on Thursday that he and his French counterpart Florence Parly had signed a letter of intent to cooperate to strengthen Cyprus's naval capabilities and strategic partnership in the interests of the two countries' naval forces, which also implies the modernization of Evangelos Florakis Naval Base.Angelides arrived in Paris on Wednesday and informed Parly in detail about Turkey's actions in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Cyprus and the reaction of the European Union.
"The agreement provides for the modernization and expansion of the naval base. The goal of Cyprus is to create infrastructure for the deployment of large warships," Angelides said in an interview with Cypriot broadcaster Sigma.
Cyprus intends to modernize the infrastructure of naval and air bases, and France has the relevant experience.
Angelides also said that Cyprus would be able to boost contribution to the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), which is the European Union's program for integration of the member states' armed forces.
According to a statement by the Cyprus Defense Ministry, Parly confirmed France's support for Cyprus and at the same time condemned Turkey's actions that it said violated international law, maritime law and the sovereignty of Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone.
Offshore gas reserves off Cyprus' coast were discovered by US company Noble Energy in 2011. Cyprus later granted oil and gas exploration licenses to France's Total, Italy's Eni and US oil giant ExxonMobil.
Ankara has been opposing the offshore oil and gas exploration being done by various enterprises off Cyprus' coast, claiming that the activity violates the rights of the Turkish community living on the island. In early may, Ankara has sent drilling vessel Fatih to the area. The Greek Foreign Ministry demanded that Turkey stop drilling in this zone.
The island of Cyprus is split between two communities: the Greeks and Turkish Cypriots. In 1974, Turkish forces occupied the northern part of the island, subsequently proclaiming it the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
