Greece stands firmly with Cyprus as defense minister visits

The visit of Nikos Dendias to Cyprus and his meetings with President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides and Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas was accompanied by statements from the Greek Defense Minister, who spoke of Greece’s absolute support for the island. Following his discussion with Mr. Palmas and military staff members in Nicosia, in the presence of Chief of General Staff General Dimitris Choupis, Nikos Dendias emphasized: “Greece is here and will remain here throughout the crisis to contribute in every possible way to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus, to protect all legitimate residents of the island and to prevent all threats and any illegal actions.” Initially, after his reception, the Defense Minister went to the presidential palace in the Cypriot capital, where he was received by Mr. Christodoulides.

Read: Cyprus live all developments: Message of support from Dendias – “Greece will be here throughout the crisis” – British ship comes to defend the Bases

Nikos Dendias: Greece wants to declare the provision of whatever assistance it can to Cyprus

After Nikos Christodoulides addressed him at the start of the meeting, Nikos Dendias stressed: “I came to convey to the entire Cypriot people the support of the Prime Minister, the Greek government, and the entire Greek society, the Greek people. These are difficult times for our broader region. However, Greece wants to declare, in the most categorical way – which contains both symbolism and substance – its intention to provide as much as possible within its powers and capabilities, whatever assistance it can to Cyprus, to the Cypriot people, to all legitimate residents of the Republic of Cyprus.”

The meeting was attended by Chief of General Staff General Dimitris Choupis, Air Force Chief Air Marshal Emmanuel Theodoros, Cyprus Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas, Greece’s Ambassador to Nicosia Konstantinos Kollias, and the Defense Minister’s diplomatic advisor Ambassador Georgios Arnaoutis. After the meeting with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Dendias stated: “The President briefed me on the situation. I conveyed to him the support of the Prime Minister, the Greek Government, and the entire Greek people. We are always beside the Republic of Cyprus. Beside the island of Cyprus. Beside the legitimate residents of the Republic of Cyprus.”

“Cyprus lies close”

After his meeting with Nikos Christodoulides, Nikos Dendias was transferred to Cyprus’s Defense Ministry to speak with Vasilis Palmas. Their private discussion was accompanied by talks between delegations from both countries. The high level of defense cooperation between the states was unmistakably clear. Additionally, there was planning for future coordinated moves regarding defense, after an assessment of the security situation was made.

After the meeting, the Defense Minister emphasized, among other things: “I have repeatedly said that for Greece, for Greek society, for the Nation, Cyprus does not lie far away. And today the Greek government proves that Cyprus lies close. Greece is here and will remain here throughout the crisis to contribute in every possible way to the defense of the Republic of Cyprus, to protect all legitimate residents of the island and to prevent all threats and any illegal actions.” “Cyprus does not participate in military operations against Iran. Consequently, we emphasize that any targeting of countries that do not participate in hostilities is not permitted in any way,” he added.

“By decision of the National Security Council, two pairs of F-16 fighter aircraft are already in Cyprus, and two frigates of the Greek Navy are sailing toward Cyprus. The frigate ‘Psara’ has the Centaurus anti-UAV system, a system produced by the Greek innovation ecosystem and already successfully tested in the European operation ‘Aspides’ in the Red Sea. The other frigate, the ‘Kimon,’ is the most modern frigate on the planet. And the historical analogy is certainly not lost. ‘Kimon’ returns to Cyprus. The choice of the Greek government is clear, as a national obligation, but I must also say as a European obligation,” he clarified.

The memory of Grigoris Auxentios

Nikos Dendias summarized the Greek position and the meetings as follows: “Today (March 3), with President Christodoulides who had the honor of receiving me earlier, as well as with the Defense Minister, my friend Vasilis Palmas, we agreed to continue our regular contacts, with absolute understanding, with a common sense of responsibility toward the citizens of the Greek and Cypriot Republics.” “With this cooperation, with the presence of our aircraft, with the presence of our frigates, we honor in the best way the memory of Grigoris Auxentios,” he concluded.

The Defense Minister’s meetings were not solely political, as he was also received by Archbishop of New Justiniana and All Cyprus Georgios, at the Holy Archbishopric of Cyprus. He then laid a wreath at the memorial of Grigoris Auxentios, on the anniversary of 69 years since his sacrifice, after proceeding to the Imprisoned Graves. Finally, Mr. Dendias visited the Paphos air base “Andreas Papandreou,” accompanied