Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has told his colleagues at the 12th Ministerial Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM), of the importance of fostering a collective security culture.
Kasoulides took part in the meeting, in Luxembourg, between November 5 and 6 and after also having had contacts with various Asian counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting returns to Cyprus on Friday evening, an official press release says.
In his addres he points out that, inter alia, “our countries face a different mix of security threats yet many threats are trans-border”, adding that “collaborative approaches would assist our national responses.”
“I feel that we should foster a collective security culture, through contacts between our security and defence personnel,” Kasoulides told his counterparts.
At the same time he stressed that “it is our common strategic interest to keep our seas open, protected and secure.”
“Cyprus, as a leading maritime nation and flag- state attributes particular importance to the sustainability and connectivity of critical maritime routes”, he said.
The Cypriot Foreign Minister also noted that Cyprus also sees “the added value of exploring synergies between the Maritime Silk Route and the Trans-European Network projects.”
CNA/EPH/GV/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY