Cyprus and USA reaffirmed their commitment to further develop their cooperation on issues of security and defence during a meeting which Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides had on Monday morning in Nicosia with the US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Clarke Cooper.

According to CNA information, Christodoulides and Cooper reviewed the current situation of the bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and the US on issues of security and defence and discussed further steps.

In this framework they exchanged views, among others, as regards the issue of the partial lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus, Cyprus` participation in the US military training program IMET, and the establishment of a training facility, in Cyprus, named “Cyprus Center for Land, Open Seas and Port Security” (CYCLOPS) after the signing of an MoU during the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo`s visit to Cyprus in September.

During the meeting the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further develop their cooperation on issues of security and defence which is being reinforced after the signing of the Statement of Intent in November 2018, a source told CNA.

Moreover the source said that Christodoulides and Cooper exchanged views on the situation in the broader Eastern Mediterranean region, in light of the ongoing illegal activities of Turkey.

According to the same source, Christodoulides briefed the US official about the prospects for the resumption of the negotiations on the Cyprus problem in light of recent developments.

Cooper is paying a working visit to Nicosia, in the framework of a trip to Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Poland.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Turkey issued recently a new illegal Navtex for seismic research by Turkish vessel “Barbaros” within Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone.

Ankara sent on several occasions its seismic research vessel ‘Barbaros’ to Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following the Republic of Cyprus’ decision, in 2011, to start exploratory offshore drilling. After May 2019, Turkey caused a stir by sending consecutively two drill ships, “Fatih” and “Yavuz”, to conduct unauthorised drilling activities of hydrocarbons in the Eastern Mediterranean, at times in areas licensed by Cyprus to international energy companies.

The European Council reaffirmed its full solidarity with Cyprus, regarding the respect of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in accordance with international law and in February 2020, placed two persons under restrictive measures, in relation to Turkey`s unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.