The assurance that any decision made as part of new confidence-building measures for the demining of areas in the Buffer Zone, during today’s meeting between Olgin-Christodoulides-Erchurman, will not jeopardize the safety of Cypriot citizens, as stated by Defense Minister Vasilis Palmas on the Alpha News program.
As he noted, while demining issues do have a military dimension, decisions are always made in consultation between the political leadership and the military. He further explained that any decisions will depend on political developments, the progress of efforts to resume talks on the Cyprus issue, as well as the National Guard’s operational assessments.
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When asked whether there are plans to clear other areas of landmines, Mr. Palmas declined to speculate on hypothetical scenarios, emphasizing that no compromises can be made on security issues in the name of building trust without ensuring continuity.
“A delicate balance”
Commenting on reports of landmines in various parts of the Demilitarized Zone, as well as the possibility that there are areas where the situation is not fully known, the Minister of Defense noted that this is an issue that has been a concern for years.
However, as he stated, at this juncture, with efforts underway to resume the dialogue on the Cyprus issue, it is preferable to avoid theoretical discussions and public statements on issues that may be linked either to Confidence-Building Measures or to the substance of the Cyprus issue.
“The less we say today on a theoretical level, the better. Let’s try to do things as well as possible in practice,” was his characteristic comment.
At the same time, he referred to the delicate balances the government is called upon to manage, particularly in areas where residents are directly affected by the presence of Turkish troops. As he noted, dialogue is needed both with the citizens directly affected and with the rest of the communities to ensure that no actions are taken that could negatively impact potential developments.
When asked about the reactions of the residents of Tillyria, who are warning that they will obstruct the movements of the occupying army in the area, Mr. Palmas acknowledged the difficulty of the situation and pointed out that the government and the President of the Republic are carefully examining all aspects.
“No decision at the expense of security”
The Minister of Defense acknowledged that resolving the Cyprus issue, within a framework of functionality and sustainability, is no easy task, noting that efforts to find a solution have been ongoing for 52 years.
When asked to comment on whether recent developments and the increased Turkish military presence in the occupied areas are affecting the government’s plans, against the backdrop of relevant references in the European Commission’s report on Turkey, Mr. Palmas assured that no decision would be made that would jeopardize security.
“Nothing will be done at the expense of the security, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and citizens of the Republic of Cyprus,” the Minister of Defense assured.
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