Cyprus, Egypt, Greece agree to bolster maritime security - ABC NEWS

Cyprus' Defense Minister Christoforos Fokaides (center), Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos (right), and Egyptian Defense Minister Sedki Sobhi (left) in Cyprus on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. 

Dec 14, 2017, 9:54 AM ET

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS LARNACA, Cyprus

The defense ministers of Cyprus, Egypt and Greece agreed Thursday to step up cooperation in combating drug, weapons and people trafficking in the east Mediterranean and to share information on countering the threat of terrorism.

Cypriot Defense Minister Christoforos Fokaides and his Egyptian and Greek counterparts Sedki Sobhi and Panos Kammenos said that they're also setting up a coordinating body to oversee joint special forces drills geared toward protecting vital sea lanes in the eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus, Greece and Israel strengthen defence cooperation - CYPRUS MAIL

November 7, 2017

Jean Christou

The defence ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Israel met in Athens on Tuesday to discuss strengthening cooperation to promote security, stability and peace in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides, after attending the first tripartite meeting with his counterparts, said: “Our vision is to gradually turn the wider region from a conflict zone to an area of peace, stability and cooperation.

“The path we embarked on today will prove particularly beneficial for our three countries and will highlight the fact that threats and tension have no place in this region today.”

According to Fokaides, the only path is that of “cooperation, good-neighbourly relations and mutual trust”.

ENI drilling could lead to positive development for Europe - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

August 1, 2017

Italy’s energy giant ENI is currently carrying out drilling offshore Cyprus and this could lead to a positive development for the whole of Europe.

This is what Italian Minister of Defence Roberta Pinotti said in Nicosia on Monday evening after talks with her Cypriot counterpart Christoforos Fokaides.

“Italy’s ENI is working right now (here in Cyprus) and I believe that we will have a positive development for the whole of Europe,” Pinotti said.

“We have to work for security and to confront difficulties and obstacles. We have to work for the future welfare of Europe within the framework of a flourishing economy,” she added.

Italian defence minister in Cyprus visit - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

July 31, 2017

Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti will visit Cyprus on Monday where she will hold talks with her Cypriot counterpart Christoforos Fokaides.

During the meeting of the two ministers, they will sign an agreement on Exchange and Mutual Protection of Information. Pinotti will also meet with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.

According to a press release by the PIO, Pinotti will be officially welcomed by Fokaides at the National Guard General Staff premises in Nicosia, where the meeting will take place.

With Turkey fuming, French Frigate patrols off Cyprus, energy drilling begins - NEW EUROPE

Turkish military search and rescue exercise with helicopters & ships
near Ammochostos, Cyprus, June 14, 2017

JULY 19, 2017, 19:49
Kostis Geropoulos

French-Italian consortium hunts energy, Cyprus ignores Ankara’s warnings

French Minister for Armed Forces Florence Parly visited Cyprus for the first time on July 17 as a consortium of France’s Total and Italy’s ENI begun drilling in Block 11 of the Mediterranean island’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), despite threats from neighbouring Turkey.

Parly was reportedly briefed by her Cypriot counterpart Christoforos Fokaides on Total’s drilling in Cyprus’ EEZ. Fokaides met Parly at the Zenon crisis management centre in Larnaca, ahead of her visit to the French Navy frigate Languedoc, which is currently operating in the East Med, Cyprus Mail reported.

Cyprus government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides said on July 17 the natural gas exploration was going as planned. “There is nothing causing concern or affecting our energy planning,” he said.

French Armed Forces Minister expresses support towards Cyprus - CNA

CNA - CYPRUS/Larnaca 17/07/2017 21:46

Cypriot Minister of Defence Christoforos Fokaides and French Minister for Armed Forces Florence Parly, met on Monday in Larnaca.

During the meeting, Fokaides briefed Parly on the government’s actions to support the drilling by French company Total in Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone, while Parly expressed France’s support to Cyprus and also expressed gratitude for the help in the fight against terrorism.

Fokaides said Cyprus and France were pylons of stability in the south-eastern Mediterranean, and pointed out the need to strengthen relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Turkey’s Barbaros sets course for Cyprus’ Block 6 - IN CYPRUS / CYPRUS WEEKLY

July 15, 2017

Turkey’s exploratory vessel Barbaros has reportedly set a course for Block 6 within Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) while Nicosia continues to call for calm against an act many see as a provocation by Ankara to raise tensions.

Earlier on Friday, Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak said that they had completed tests in Famagusta and that “our next step is Morphou which is very important to us.”

Turkey recently announced that it would conduct seismic researches to the east of Paphos following the start of the drilling process – commissioned by ENI/Total in Block 11 of the island’s EEZ.

Aoun urges Cyprus cooperation in oil, gas fields - THE DAILY STAR

President Michel Aoun welcomes Cypriot counterpart Nicos
Anastasiades at Baabda Palace. 

Jun. 12, 2017 | 03:03 PM

BEIRUT: President Michel Aoun Monday lauded bilateral cooperation between Lebanon and Cyprus, calling for increased coordination in offshore oil and gas exploration.

"I encourage the governments of the two countries to raise the level of cooperation in the fields of oil and gas," Aoun said in a joint news conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades.

Lebanon and Israel are locked in a dispute over a maritime zone that is believed to contain large quantities of natural gas. Lebanon is demanding the demarcation of the area with the help of the U.N. and other concerned parties.

Technically and legally, the United Nations does not have the mandate to demarcate disputed borders between countries.

However, Lebanese officials insist that the U.N. has an interest in taking steps to avoid an open conflict between Lebanon and Israel.

Cyprus and France update their Defence Cooperation Agreement - FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE / CNA

Wednesday, 05 April, 2017

Cyprus and France updated their Defence Cooperation Agreement, during an official visit to Paris of the Cyprus Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides.

According to an announcement by the Press and Information Office (PIO), the Cypriot Minister and his counterpart Jean - Yves Le Drian signed on Tuesday the updated version of the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The Agreement updates and enhances the existing cooperation, while it extends it in new areas in light of new security challenges and the new geopolitical environment.

The Defence Cooperation Agreement covers new areas of cooperation such as energy and maritime security, terrorism and crisis management.

Egypt signs military cooperation agreement with Cyprus - AHRAM ONLINE

Egypt's Defence Minister Sedki Sobhi (right) and his
Cypriot counterpart Christophoros Fokaides

Ahram Online , Tuesday 1 Mar 2016

Egypt's defence minister Sedki Sobhi and his Cypriot counterpart Christophoros Fokaides signed a joint military cooperation agreement Monday in Cairo, an Egyptian army spokesman said.

Sobhi and Fokaides, who is the first Cypriot defence minister to visit Egypt, also discussed previously signed memoranda of understanding for cooperation in defence, military trainings, and exchange of expertise, Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said in a statement.