By Muhammet Ikbal Arslan
LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (AA) - The Greek Cypriot Administration and the US signed a declaration of intent in an attempt to enhance cooperation in border security, local media reported on Tuesday.
Acting Secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf and the Greek Cypriot Administration's Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides signed the deal in Southern Cyprus to “increase the ability to combat common threats and ensure stability in the region,” according to local daily Phileleftheros.
Speaking at the ceremony, Christodoulides said Wolf's visit to Southern Cyprus proved the recent progress in bilateral cooperation.
He said Wolf's visit coincided with a period of important developments affecting regional security in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean and that the recent visits of the US officials created new and dynamic conditions for cooperation.
Christodoulides also said he informed Wolf about the developments regarding the Cyprus issue.
He recalled that on Jan. 4 they laid the foundation for the "Cyprus Center for Land, Open-seas, and Port Security", a security and defense training center.
Wolf stressed that the bilateral relations were never as strong as they are now.
Noting that they discussed issues such as “common security problems in the Eastern Mediterranean and maintaining stability,” Wolf highlighted the “the strong cooperation in eliminating threats”.