Own naval fleet, coast guard by 2020

The government plans to create a naval fleet of three open sea vessels and two smaller coast guard vessels by the end of 2020, by when the upgrade of the naval base infrastructure should have been completed.

Speaking in Larnaca port after the Republic of Cyprus received the fully refurbished ‘Al Salam’ naval vessel donated by the Sultan of Oman, Defence Minister Christoforos Fokaides said the renamed ‘Alasia’ will be used for patrols, to take part in search and rescue operations, humanitarian assistance missions and will also be used as a training vessel.

Fokaides said that Cyprus and Oman “share common historical experience and have common goals as to the need to promote stability, security and peace.”

Both countries, he added, have powerful neighbours and are located in extremely important regions geostrategically.

Referring to the new energy prospects for Cyprus and the eastern Mediterranean in general, Fokaides pointed out that in cooperation with neighbouring and friendly countries, Cyprus will contribute towards establishing conditions of maritime and energy security and managing crisis and take part in humanitarian and search and rescue missions.

He expressed the Republic’s and the President’s “grateful thanks” for this important donation on the part of Oman and the sultanate’s Royal Navy.

Oman’s Ambassador Ahmed Al-Shanfari expressed his satisfaction for the safe arrival of the vessel which was jointly operated on the trip by Oman’s Royal Navy officers together with the Republic of Cyprus naval officers.