The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yiorgos Lillikas and the French Minister of Defence Ms. Michèle Alliot-Marie signed yesterday in Paris an agreement for Defence Cooperation between the two countries.

The agreement is part of the joint statement to strengthen bilateral relations within the framework of a structured dialogue, announced during President Tassos Papadopoulos’ visit to France in November 2005.

Expressing his satisfaction, Mr. Lillikas noted that the agreement is the natural outcome of what was agreed during President Papadopoulos’ visit and his meeting with President Jacques Chirac regarding relations between the two countries on the basis of a structured dialogue.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Mr. Lillikas pointed out that France and Cyprus have always had excellent political relations and share a common vision on international issues. Particularly now as EU partners, the two countries have demonstrated that they can also contribute to peace in the Middle East, he added.

“The crisis in Lebanon gave both countries the chance to cooperate in the military field not only to their benefit but mainly to the benefit of Middle East countries,” Mr. Lillikas said. He expressed the hope that just as Cyprus proved to be a factor of stability in the Middle East, the solution to the Cyprus problem and Cyprus’ reunification will prove that Cyprus can, with the cooperation of all partners such as France, contribute towards peace and stability in the entire region.

For her part the French Minister of Defence said the agreement will allow relations to strengthen between the two Ministries.

''It provides for greater exchange in training issues and joint manoeuvres as well as in analysing the geostrategic situation. It is a continuation of the existing relations. We are often faced with common dangers, such as terrorism, which concern all the European countries and which we have to handle,” the French Minister remarked.

This agreement, she added, “will help France have sea protection, protection against illegal immigration, which is one of our most important problems we face, as well as protection against illegal trade.”

Asked if Cyprus’ geographical position was a decisive factor in signing the agreement, the French Minister said that one of the factors was that the Republic of Cyprus welcomed French soldiers during the Lebanon crisis and added: “When our ships and planes had to intervene to evacuate French nationals as well as European and Lebanese citizens, we greatly appreciated the fact that the Republic of Cyprus immediately made available the necessary infrastructure. Throughout this situation we saw military cooperation between the two countries increase and this speeded up the process. It is a usual agreement which we have with many other countries but did not have with Cyprus,” she concluded.