Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades met French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Thursday for talks which included discussions on Turkey’s current provocations as well as issues involving Mediterranean security in general.
In statements on Thursday, as reported by the Reuters news agency, Macron said that it would be a “serious error for the European Union to leave our security in the Mediterranean in the hands of other actors.”
The French leader also said that he wanted more sanctions levied on those who violate maritime zones in the eastern Mediterranean.
On his part, Cyprus President Anastasiades said that his nation will always be the most hospitable among all countries regarding its willingness to host the French Navy. He then noted “We have always been and continue to be a country of real stability and security in the region.
“We have helped remove the chemicals from Syria in the past (used for chemical warfare), we have helped many crises in the Middle East, such as Lebanon, and we may need to re-contribute in this direction,” the President concluded.