The Republic of Cyprus is one of France's top partners in the Eastern Mediterranean region, said today Paul Merveilleux Du Vignaux, captain of the French multi-mission frigate “Auvergne”.
At a press conference given to the frigate, which is located in the port of Larnaca, the captain said that “the Auvergne is the 5th of a series of eight multi-mission frigates. It was put into service 3 years ago and since 2018 it has been developed in many areas, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean “.
He explained that the frigate is 142 meters long and has about 150 crew members and a high level of automation, while the FREMM class destroyer is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, especially in anti-submarine warfare with state-of-the-art sonar and combat system.
He added: “Last year the US Navy awarded the Auvergne the Prize for Excellence in submarine warfare, thus recognizing our capabilities in this area. “The frigate has enormous capabilities both below and above the water, in offshore control operations, in strategic ground strikes with Cruz naval missiles, in support of special operations and more.”
According to Merveilleux Du Vignaux, “the French frigate will be in the Eastern Mediterranean until January. “Auvergne has visited Cyprus 11 times in the last 3 years and France, as a Mediterranean country and a member of the European Union, ensures an almost constant presence in this strategic area with naval and air naval means.”
He continued these days, “the simultaneous development of an ATL2 naval patrol aircraft in Paphos, underscores how important France considers this part of the Mediterranean. “Our mission here could be summed up in three words: we are trying, we are cooperating and we are stabilizing.”
He explained that “France considers it absolutely necessary to continuously improve its autonomous knowledge of the situation in the region, proving its interest in respect for international law and in particular the freedom of navigation as well as the issues of defense, security and shipping. We also improve our mutual knowledge and interoperability with all our regional partners, exchanging information and conducting joint exercises “.
He also said that on Friday there will be a Coordinated Military Exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean with the Cypriot and Italian Navies, noting that “this kind of cooperation underscores the quality of our relationship, but also the fact that France is a reliable and valuable partner.” ».
He added that “the frequent and almost permanent development of a French instrument in the Eastern Mediterranean shows France's willingness to contribute to the stabilization of this strategic region. “Our mission improves security and stability impartially,” he said. and Europe “.
This vision, said the captain of the frigate, “is shared by France and the Republic of Cyprus, as a member of the European Union and one of France's leading partners in the region. “We particularly appreciate the way in which the Cypriot authorities receive the French navy for visits to ports or aircraft shipments,” he said.
He also noted that “given the geographical location of the island, Cyprus is an important strategic place to support French naval operations” and added that “there can be no effective and sustainable operations without strong support. “Cyprus is a central part of this support.”
In addition, he continued, “the Cypriot navy is a leading partner of the French navy, both for exercises and for companies, and it is very important that we continue to cooperate in this way, as it is a proof of our strong mutual trust.”
Asked if there were any plans for other French warships to arrive in Cyprus to take part in exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, the captain replied that “France is trying to maintain a permanent presence of its naval ships in the Eastern Mediterranean”.
He added that now we have the Auvergne mission, while later other ships will come to the area and noted that usually the ships that come to the area, are frigate or destroyer.
He also stated that “the development of French naval ships in the region is done with the cooperation of the navy and the air force of Cyprus”. “We are taking every opportunity to cooperate,” he said, noting that the crew of the French frigate will cooperate with the Cypriot forces on Friday in the exercise that will take place.
Asked whether the exercise will take place in international waters or in the territorial waters of Cyprus, he replied that “usually the exercises take place in Cypriot territorial waters, but we can try anywhere else, such as on the high seas if it is better.”
Asked to mention whether with these exercises there is an upgrade of relations between Cyprus and France, the captain said that “the relationship between the two countries is very old, even centuries old. “In recent years, this relationship is becoming stronger,” he said, noting that “the French navy has been developing very regularly in recent decades in this region, because” as he explained “the Eastern Mediterranean has always been, but this period especially, it is a very important area for the security of France and Europe “.
He also said that France's missions in the region “provide an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Cyprus, which provides the French navy with very strong support for port visits or aircraft landings in Paphos or visits to Limassol and Larnaca, where we have logistical support facilities “.
I would say, Mr. Merveilleux Du Vignaux noted that “the relations between France and especially the French navy and the Cypriot forces are becoming stronger, while the visits to the ports and the exercises that we do together, contribute to the strengthening of this relationship. ». The press conference was followed by a tour of the ship.
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