We are not at the point for applying for membership of the Republic of Cyprus in NATO, Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos said on Tuesday, adding that the discussion on Cyprus’ membership in NATO will take place at an appropriate time.
The Minister was speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Referring to the Cyprus issue, the Minister said that it is still not clear when the meeting of the two leaders, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar, will take place to discuss more crossing points between the areas under the control of the government and the Turkish occupied areas, nor about the five-party talks to do with the effort for reunification of Cyprus, which has been divided since Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third in 1974.
He recalled that after an informal dinner in New York in October between the President of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot leader the UN Secretary General, President Christodoulides had sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General thanking him and expressing his readiness to participate in the two meetings as soon as possible.
He also announced that he will be travelling to Qatar on Friday for meetings with his counterparts and that on December 17 he will have a working breakfast with his British counterpart in London.
Referring to Syria, the Minister said that Nicosia is monitoring the situation and is concerned about possible migratory flows, but also about the role of Turkey.
The Minister also talked about the ceasefire in Lebanon, saying that it is an “important development”, noting that the Republic of Cyprus has publicly declared its readiness to help practically in its implementation.
He referred to the important role of the Lebanese Armed Forces, and to Nicosia’s intention to send necessary reinforcement material to the Lebanese forces.
Kombos also said that the relations of the Republic of Cyprus with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan are “excellent” and that he will be travelling to Qatar on Friday for meetings with his counterparts and from the wider region.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Nicosia expects the new European Commission to continue the ‘very good cooperation’ on issues concerning Cyprus, such as the Green Line Regulation, the Cyprus problem and the region, such as migration, etc.
Kombos also talked about Cyprus’ relations with the UK and the visit to London of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, just a day before his meeting in New York with the UN Secretary General and the leader of the Turkish Cypriots. He said that on December 17 he will have a working breakfast with his counterpart in the UK and that the strategic dialogue with the UK will take place during the same period.
Regarding the relations with the US, the Minister said that some issues were initiated with varying degrees of implementation and that developments on some of them are expected soon.
“The relationship for us is extremely important,” Kombos stressed, noting that it is based on strategic interests, and that this in itself places the Republic of Cyprus in a field of interest for the US due to the crises in the region, but also Nicosia’s orientation in this direction.
Regarding NATO, the Minister said that one should first assess the satisfaction of the necessary armament needs of the Republic of Cyprus, adding that these exist, given the presence of the Turkish occupying army and that its suppliers are very specific.
There are some geopolitical data that affect the supply chain to the Republic of Cyprus, he added. He referred to the need to coordinate material, the need for training, and infrastructure capabilities with NATO countries with which Cyprus has cooperation saying that this is our approach”.
He also said that relations with the US are at an “excellent point”, and that someone must invest in them to strengthen defence supplies, strengthen access to equipment, enhance the ability to train National Guard personnel and reinforce the infrastructure of the Republic of Cyprus since it cooperates with NATO member countries.
“These three must be aligned with the countries you are cooperating with,” he said.
Kombos gave as an example the evacuation of third-country nationals from the region noting that the implementation of the national plan in the event of hosting a much larger number requires improved infrastructure in order to serve its role.
Regarding the possibility of applying for NATO membership, he said that “the transition from declaration to implementation is of particular importance, implementation requires some of the steps that I have mentioned above.”
“This discussion will take place at the appropriate time,” the Minister stressed, adding that we are not at the point of applying for NATO membership.
Also read: Kombos: Public debate on NATO membership is “premature”
Source: CNA/EAN/AAR/EPH/2024
