Cyprus to participate in EU naval force in Somalia

The European Union decided on Monday to send a naval force to the coast of Somalia to combat piracy, after a unanimous decision of the Ministers of Defence of the 27 member states.

Cypriot Minister of Defence Costas Papacostas, who participated in the Ministers of Defence Meeting in Brussels, said Cyprus has one of the largest commercial fleets and, since it has been directly affected by piracy, intents to participate in the operation.

The naval force, named EUNAVFOR Atalanta, will undertake to patrol the area as of December 2, replacing the NATO force.

The EU Ministers of Defence reviewed the European military capacity to achieve the goals set by the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

Commenting on the French initiatives, concerning the removal of citizens from crisis areas, the sea surveillance on a European level and the involvement of European multinational forces in ESDP operations, Papacostas noted the special interest of Cyprus for sea surveillance and security.

He also congratulated the French presidency for prioritising the issue of evacuating crisis areas, and presented Cyprus' experience during the crisis in Lebanon in 2006.

Furthermore, the EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Ministers of Defence, during a joint session, approved the conclusions of the Council on the ESDP and discussed the non military operation EUPOL in Afghanistan and the future of the ALTHEA operation in Bosnia Herzegovina.

On the sidelines of the Council, the Board of Directors of the European Defence Agency convened and approved the various activities of the Agency, especially regarding the research programme for pioneering technology, in which Cyprus is actively participating along with ten other members of the Agency.