10.02.2010.

Minister Sutanovac: Cyprus gives support

During his visit to Cyprus, Minister of Defense Dragan Sutanovac stated after the meeting with the President of Cyprus Demwtris Christofias that he had received reassurances that this country supported Serbia’s position regarding Kosovo not only because both of the friendly relations of the two countries, but also because both countries were convinced that this was the only way to protect the principles of the modern world, international right and UN system.

Stressing that Cyprus had a similar problem in his statement to FoNet news agency said that Serbia had Cyprus’s unconditional support and the support of the President of Cyprus.

As in the previous talks with the Minister of defense of Cyprus Kostas Papakostas, the topic of the meeting was defense cooperation, and in the words of minister Sutanovac, Serbia offered to educate Cypriot officers at our Military Academy and the Military Medical Academy.

Special Serbian and Cypriot units have already had joint training which is to be continued, while mutual visits of cadets and officers have also been agreed upon.

Sutanovac and Papakostas signed an agreement on the cooperation of the two countries in the field of defense, while the Serbian defense minister, after signing told the reporters that Serbia appreciated for the support of Cyprus on its principled stance regarding Kosovo.

He repeated Serbia’s position when it comes to the Cypriot issue would be solving it in the diplomatic way, through negotiations and finding solutions within the Helsinki Charter, international legal order and UN resolutions.

Sutanovac laid a commemorative wreath in the military cemetery in Nicosia where the Cypriot soldiers did during the Turkish invasion in 1974.

After the Turkish invasion, Cyprus lost control of 36,2 % of its territory.

Minister Sutanovac will meet today with the President of the Parliament Mario Karoyan, Minister of Foreign Markos Kyprianou and the Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikio

FoNet news agency