Cyprus to establish a Coast Guard, Minister says

Cyprus’ Minister of Justice and Public Order, Costas Fitiris, on Monday announced the establishment of a Coast Guard, which will not be under the Police.

Speaking at a press conference in Nicosia, the Minister said the Coast Guard will have under its protection the maritime area from the coastline to Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The core of the body will be the Coast Guard and the helicopter squadron, he added. The Coast Guard will also cooperate with the Ports Authority, which has the monitoring system, as well as the vessels of the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, he said, noting that this will be the proposal to be submitted to the Cabinet.

“We are a small state and there is a dispersion of responsibilities. The time has finally come to join forces, cut costs and have rapid response with high efficiency. This is the goal and I believe we will achieve it,” Fitiris said.

The Minister also announced the creation of a Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit, such as airports, fiber optic sites and the energy center.