The Defence Ministers of Greece and Cyprus signed here Tuesday an interstate agreement which addresses the issue of the ownership of the missile systems S300, TOR M1 and SUZANA.

Cyprus Defence Minister Christodoulos Pashiardes told the press after signing the agreement, which followed talks between the two Ministers and their aides, that according to this agreement the Cypriot side transfers the ownership of the S 300 missiles to Greece in return for the ownership of two other missile systems.

"The agreement settles permanently an issue pending for many years," Pashiardes said.

Greek Minister of National Defence Evangelos Meimarakis said this was an important agreement in that it resolves a long standing issue which had troubled Athens and Nicosia for many years.

Meimarakis also noted that the joint defence pact, agreed in the early 1990s between Cyprus and Greece, is still in place.

"The agreement reached today, with all interested parties, settles a pending issue and integrates the weaponry systems into our defences," he said, adding that these systems are used to safeguard stability and peace in the broader region.
The Cypriot Defence Minister said that he had the chance to discuss with Meimarakis about various other issues regarding the continuation and promotion of the cooperation between the two ministries. He also underlined the close, excellent and effective cooperation between the two ministries.

Meimarakis was received earlier in the day by Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Source: Athens News Agency

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