MOSCOW. Nov 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Cyprus is ready to provide the European Army with a small military contingent even before joining the European Union, Cyprian Defense Minister Socrates Hasikos said on Wednesday.
"We already applied on our involvement in the European Army which is to be established in the near future," Hasikos told Interfax-Military News Agency. According to him, Cyprus is ready to provide the army with a small number of servicemen, aerial rescue means, radar systems to control naval coastal line and infrastructure of all naval ports and airports controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. In general, Cyprus is representing itself to the European Union as an unsinkable aircraft carrier, Hasikos added.
Cyprus is ready to join the army in humanitarian operations carried out by the EU as well as in operations on maintaining and strengthening security in the area. Moreover, the republic can be used for combating illegal immigration which one of the most serious threats for Europe.
The decision on the establishment of the quick response forces which are called the European Army was made at the European Union leaders session in December 1999.