Cyprus and Armenia have reiterated their preparedness to confront unforeseen threats, Defence Minister Michalis Georgallas said on Tuesday following a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan, on an official visit to Cyprus.
The reception took place early in the morning, followed by private discussions between the delegations of the two countries.
Both ministers stressed the long-standing relationship between the two nations, their defence cooperation and trilateral cooperation with Greece.
Among other topics discussed were the Cyprus problem, the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, and Nagorno-Karabakh.
Georgallas also briefed his counterpart on recent provocations in Pyla and Ayios Dhometios and on Nicosia’s proposal concerning the humanitarian aid for Gaza.
The minister highlighted Armenia’s significant friendship with Cyprus and said that the current visit “builds upon the long-standing bilateral relationships, confirming the bonds of friendship, mutual trust and respect between the two countries.”
Moreover, he mentioned that he provided an opportunity to discuss strengthening these ties, with discussions covering bilateral defence cooperation, cooperation at the regional level, threats and challenges faced and readiness to counter unpredictable threats.
Papikyan highlighted the centuries-old relationship between Cyprus and Armenia and said his country strongly supports a resolution to the Cyprus problem based on UN resolutions.
He added that the two countries face common threats and join forces to counter them, confirming that they are not only friends but also allies.
Additionally, Papikyan mentioned discussions with his counterpart about developing cooperation in defence and security matters, expressing further prospects for bilateral collaboration that should be exploited.
He thanked Nicosia for its principled stance on Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity before extending an invitation to Georgallas to visit Armenia, which was accepted.