RUSSIANS ARE COMING> Russian Navy getting access to Cyprus’ ports and possibly to Egypt- Panic in EU and NATO headquarters!?
Russian Federation just closed a military deal with Cyprus government, which provides “for hosting” of Russian Navy fleet in its ports… In same time, a relationship with Egyptian and Russian governments is getting “warmer” too. Egyptian FM openly called upon Russia to use its ports and territorial waters in order to combat Islamic extremists in (another West created “jihadist hotbed”) in Libya… This latest Russian “military expansion” comes in the wake of aggressive NATO encirclement of RF proper- certainly creating “an uneasiness” in Brussels and Washington… (FBR comment- M. Novakovic)
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Russia secures military deal to use Cyprus’ ports despite EU concerns
Russia Today: February 26, 2015
Russian navy ships will keep having access to stop off at Cyprus’ ports in Mediterranean as the two countries have agreed to prolong the pre-existing deal on military cooperation.
The agreement, which applies to Russian vessels involved in counter-terrorism and anti-piracy efforts, was signed by President Vladimir Putin and his Cypriot counterpart, Nicos Anastasiades, in Moscow.
The signing came aimed heightened tensions and sanctions between Russia and the EU over the military conflict in Ukraine.
President Putin, however, stressed that the agreement, as well as Russia-Cypriot ”friendly ties aren’t aimed against anyone.”
“I don’t think it should cause worries anywhere,” he said.
During his press conference at Tass news agency’s headquarters, Anastasiades stressed that Moscow and Nicosia haven’t signed any new agreements, but only prolonged those that were in place before.
“The updated agreement envisages the right of Russian warships to visit the ports of Cyprus…for humanitarian purposes such as supply and refueling a swell as saving the lives and evacuation of Russian citizens from neighboring states,” he said.
He called the prolongation of a military deal with Russia “a sensitive issue,” adding that Vladimir Putin discussed this matter in a very delicate manner, not putting Cyprus in an uncomfortable position before its EU partners.
Despite the permission to enter Cyprus port for Russian ships, the sides also agreed that Moscow will restructure its €2.5 billion bailout loan it gave Nicosia in 2011.
In return for being granted permission for Russian navy ships to stop off in Cypriot ports, Moscow has agreed to restructure its €2.5 billion (£1.8 billion) bailout loan it gave Cyprus in 2011.
Russia isn’t only country to have military ties with Cyprus as the Mediterranean island state also planning to host British military bases.
The cool down in relations with EU and the US saw Moscow working to maintain good relations with its long-time time European partners, including Greece, Hungary and Cyprus.
Anastasiades spoke out against the implementation of further European sanctions against Russia as “they impact other countries [and] members of the EU, which include my motherland.”
He also reminded that “most of the Cyprus military’s weaponry is Russian made. Apart From France, only Russia supplies weapons to Cyprus.”
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Cairo to hail Russian warships’ possible help in Libya’s naval blockade — Egyptian FM
February 26, 2015
A naval blockade is supposed to prevent arms supplies for terrorists in the Arab country
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry
Mikhail Metzel/TASS
MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Egypt would welcome participation of Russian warships in naval blockade of Libya to prevent arms supplies for terrorists in the Arab country if Moscow made such decision, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday.
“Russia plays an important role in this issue since it has a naval fleet in the Mediterranean,” Shoukry told a news conference in Moscow on Thursday. “We would welcome contributions of any country, which has abilities of providing such contributions.”
“Any effort, which can be contributed in the blockade of the border to prevent arms getting into wrong hands, will be of great help,” the minister added.
Addressing the UN Security Council earlier this month Shoukry that Libya’s government latter should authorize a naval blockade of Libyan territorial waters so as to prevent the delivery of weapons by sea to the Islamic radicals acting in the country.
In this regard Russia’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said he did not rule out a possibility of Russia taking part in an international anti-terrorist coalition in Libya, in particular in securing a naval blockade of Libyan territorial waters in order to avert the delivery of weapons to the Islamic radicals.
“From the political point of view, I would not rule out this. But this is not my decision,” he told TASS after the UN Security Council meeting last week.
“If Russia could take part in the operation off Somalia’s coast, why can’t it take part in an operation in the Mediterranean?”
He drew attention to the fact that air strikes at Islamic State terrorists in Libya had been delivered by Egypt, which enjoy traditionally friendly relations with Russia.
Late on February 15, Islamic State gunmen circulated a video showing the execution of 21 Egyptians, all Coptic Christians coming from the city of Samalut in the Minya province south of Cairo.
They were captured by the extremists in Libya at the end of last year from the coastal town of Sirte in eastern Libya, now under the control of Islamist groups, and since then their fate had been unknown.
Following the cold-blooded mass execution, which caused worldwide outcry, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi addressed the nation saying Cairo had the “right to respond” to killings of Egyptian citizens in Libya.
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