March 26, 2023 – Cyprus News Gazette

March 26, 2023

ROSEN, A HIGHLY RECOGNIZED LAW FIRM, Encourages Rollins, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation – ROL

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL) resulting from allegations that Rollins may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Rollins securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=2735 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 28, 2020, Rollins disclosed that a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation had been initiated and believed the SEC’s focus to be how accruals and reserves were established at period ends and their impact on reported earnings going as far back as January 2015.

Then on February 26, 2021, Rollins announced that an internal investigation into the same matters found “a significant deficiency in the Company’s internal controls relating to the documentation and review of accounting entries for certain reserves and accruals.” On this news, Rollins share prices fell $0.87, or 2.5%, to close at $33.17 per share on February 26, 2021, damaging investors.

Then on April 18, 2022, the SEC announced that Rollins agreed to pay $8 million to settle the charges that Rollins made unsupported reductions to its accounting reserves to improperly boost its earnings per share. On this news, Rollins share price fell $0.55, or approximately 1.7%, to close at $34.29 on April 18, 2022, damaging investors.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

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Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.
Phillip Kim, Esq.
The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 686-1060
Toll Free: (866) 767-3653
Fax: (212) 202-3827
lrosen@rosenlegal.com
pkim@rosenlegal.com
cases@rosenlegal.com
www.rosenlegal.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795218

March 26, 2023

ROSEN, GLOBALLY RECOGNIZED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Norfolk Southern Corporation Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action – NSC

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important May 15, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Norfolk Southern securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Norfolk class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12322 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 15, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: During the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company’s Precision Scheduled Railroading (“PSR”), including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, had led to the Company suffering increased train derailments and a materially increased risk of future derailments; (2) the Company’s PSR, including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, was part of a culture of increased risk-taking at the expense of reasonable safety precautions due to the Company’s near-term focus solely on profits; (3) the Company’s PSR, including its use of longer, heavier trains staffed by fewer personnel, rendered the Company more vulnerable to train derailments and train derailments with potentially more severe human, financial, legal, and environmental consequences; (4) the Company’s capital spending and replacement programs were designed to prioritize profits over the Company’s ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (5) the Company’s lobbying efforts had undermined the Company’s ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (6) the Company’s commitment to reducing operating expenses as part of its PSR goals undermined worker safety and the Company’s purported “commitment to an injury free workplace” because the Company’s PSR plan prioritized reducing expenses through fewer personnel, longer trains, and less spending on safety training, technology, and equipment such as hot bearing wayside detectors (a/k/a “hotboxes”) and acoustic sensors; (7) the Company’s rail services were, as a result of its adoption of PSR principles, more susceptible to accidents that could cause serious economic and bodily harm to the Company, the Company’s workers, the Company’s customers, third parties, and the environment; (8) the Company had failed to put in place responsive practices and procedures to minimize the threat to communities in the event that these communities suffered the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous and toxic materials; and (9) as a result, defendants’ Class Period statements detailed above regarding the safety of Norfolk Southern’s operations were materially false and/or misleading.

To join the Norfolk Southern class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12322 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795240

March 26, 2023

ROSEN, NATIONAL TRIAL COUNSEL, Encourages Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Class Action Investigation – HBNC

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: HBNC) resulting from allegations that Horizon Bank may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Horizon Bank securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12953 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 10, 2023, after trading hours, Horizon Bank filed a current report on Form 8-K as well as a late filing notice with the Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”). In these filings, it announced that it had received a notice from NASDAQ as a result of failing to timely file its annual report, and that it had identified material weaknesses in its internal controls.

Specifically, the material weaknesses in internal controls issues related to “(i) accounting revisions of previously issued financial statements with respect to the classification of sold commercial loan participation balances, the reporting of indirect loan dealer reserve asset balances and related amortization expense and the classification of certain available for sale and held to maturity securities from private labeled mortgage-backed pools to federal agency mortgage pool, which revisions were previously disclosed in the Earnings Release and the Company’s Form 10-Q filings during 2022, in addition to errors in previously issued financial statement disclosures relating to the transfer of available for sale to held to maturity securities and the cash flow classification of repurchases of outstanding stock from an investing activity to a financing activity, which will be disclosed for the first time in the 2022 Form 10-K, and (ii) a calculation error in the Company’s public float as noted above.”

On this news, the price of Horizon Bank’s stock fell $1.43, or 10%, on March 13, 2023, the next trading day.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795495

March 26, 2023

ROSEN, LEADING INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Western Alliance Bancorporation Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation – WAL

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE: WAL) resulting from allegations that Western Alliance may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Western Alliance securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12994 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 10, 2023, Business Insider reported after Silicon Valley Bank’s $1.8 billion loss, shares of Western Alliance have crashed. The Company issued financial updates, “showing growing deposits and strong liquidity in the form $2.5 billion in cash on its balance sheet, a fully collateralized credit facility of $13.1 billion, and uncommitted credit lines of $4.6 billion.”

On this news, Western Alliance’s price fell $13.02 per share, or 20%, to close at $49.34 per share on March 10, 2023.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795493

March 26, 2023

ARBK MONDAY DEADLINE: ROSEN, LEADING TRIAL ATTORNEYS, Encourages Argo Blockchain plc Investors with Losses in Excess of $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important March 27 Deadline in Securities Class Action – ARBK

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the American Depository Shares (“ADSs”) of Argo Blockchain plc (NASDAQ: ARBK): (i) pursuant and/or traceable to the Offering Documents issued in connection with the Company’s initial public offering conducted on or about September 23, 2021 (the “IPO” or “Offering”); and/or (ii) securities between September 23, 2021 and October 10, 2022, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important March 27, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Argo securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Argo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=11508 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 27, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period, the Offering documents and defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Argo was highly susceptible to and/or suffered from significant capital constraints, electricity and other costs, and network difficulties; (2) the foregoing issues hampered, inter alia, Argo’s ability to mine Bitcoin (BTC), execute its business strategy, meet its obligations, and operate its Helios facility; (3) as a result, Argo’s business was less sustainable than defendants had led investors to believe; (4) accordingly, Argo’s business and financial prospects were overstated; and (5) as a result, the Offering documents and defendants’ public statements throughout the Class Period were materially false and/or misleading and failed to state information required to be stated therein. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Argo class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=11508 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795246

March 26, 2023

ROSEN, A GLOBALLY RESPECTED LAW FIRM, Encourages adidas AG Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation – ADDYY, ADDDF

NEW YORK, March 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues its investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of adidas AG (OTC: ADDYY, ADDDF) resulting from allegations that adidas may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

SO WHAT: If you purchased adidas securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12204 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 25, 2022, adidas ended its lucrative business partnership with Kanye West (under which it sold products designed by West under the brand name “Yeezy”) as a result of his anti-Semitic rhetoric.

On November 27, 2022, The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “Adidas Top Executives Discussed Risk of Staff’s ‘Direct Exposure’ to Kanye West Years Ago.” According to the article, as early as 2018, adidas executives discussed ending the business partnership with West as a result of his behavior. Reportedly adidas feared continuing the relationship with West, as they feared it could “blow up” at any moment. The article added that West made anti-Semitic statements in front of adidas staff, and that he told adidas staff that he was considering naming an album after Adolf Hitler.

On February 9, 2023 adidas announced that “while the company continues to review future options for the utilization of its Yeezy inventory, this guidance already accounts for the significant adverse impact from not selling the existing stock. This would lower revenues by around € 1.2 billion and operating profit by around € 500 million this year.” Further, “should the company irrevocably decide not to repurpose any of the existing Yeezy product going forward, this would result in the write-off of the existing Yeezy inventory and would lower the company’s operating profit by an additional € 500 million this year. In addition, adidas expects one-off costs of up to € 200 million in 2023. These costs are part of a strategic review the company is currently conducting aimed at reigniting profitable growth as of 2024. If all these effects were to materialize, the company would expect to report an operating loss of € 700 million in 2023.” adidas’ CEO stated, “[t]he numbers speak for themselves. We are currently not performing the way we should[.]”

As a result of these adverse disclosures the price of adidas securities have fallen, damaging investors.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

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Contact Information:

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8795244

March 26, 2023March 27, 2023

Investigation continues after deadly shooting in Germany’s Hamburg

Police say that they have concluded an operation after the overnight shooting incident in the city.

Two people have died after a shooting in Hamburg, police have said, in a second deadly shooting in the city this month.

Police said on Sunday that they had concluded an operation and were now investigating.

A spokesperson declined to comment on the perpetrator.

Bild newspaper reported that the police were called shortly before midnight and that 28 vehicles rushed to the scene.

Source: TRTworld.com

March 26, 2023

We do not settle for anything less than the freedom and reunification of our homeland, Cyprus’ House President says

We remain committed to the goal of resolving the Cyprus issue, and for this reason we are addressing the international community by taking initiatives for the resumption of talks, Cyprus’ House President, Annita Demetriou, said on Sunday, in her speech at the annual memorial of heroes of the EOKA 1955-59 anti-colonial movement, held in Chandria village, in Limassol.

The House President said that, ‘we do not settle for anything less than the obvious, which is freedom and reunification for our homeland through a just and viable solution, based on European principles and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council’.

She said that Ankara ‘remains intransigent’ in its position for a two-state solution, while it intensifies its provocative and unacceptable actions through the instrumentalisation of the immigration crisis at the expense of the people of Cyprus and by creating new faits accomplis in occupied Famagusta by opening up part of its coastal front.

‘Turkey’s intransigence and expansionist ambitions are factors that seriously undermine efforts to restart meaningful negotiations and are a destabilising factor, not only for Cyprus, but also for the wider eastern Mediterranean region’, she said.

Demetriou also referred to the efforts being made to restart the talks. ‘We address the international community by undertaking initiatives that increase our credibility even more and prove the sincere will of our side,’ she noted.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

March 26, 2023

Russian company unveils ChatGPT competitor

Moscow-based company Sistemma has created its own competitor to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which runs entirely on domestic servers and in the Russian language. The project was unveiled on Sunday on the IT company’s official site.

The AI is called SistemmaGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) and is based on the company’s own developments, along with Stanford University research. The chatbot is intended for Russian businesses and government agencies.

Sistemma claims that its AI can write high quality texts and possesses “encyclopedic knowledge.” The company also claims that the chatbot can “create tutorials, write essays, programming code, resumes or just support a conversation while pretending to be a celebrity.” It can find and analyze data in real time and create development strategies and business projects, while adapting to their clients and local context.

The chatbot is currently in a work-in-progress beta version, with open testing by the public slated for June. The company is also working on an AI that can edit images and videos, planned for 2023.

AI chatbots rose to prominence when the US-made ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, was launched in November 2022. The program has since garnered 100 million users, setting a record for the fastest growing app. The AI is smart enough to pass exams for law and medical school. A Russian student used ChatGPT to successfully pass a diploma thesis.

Many companies have started investing in their own AI projects. Google and Microsoft revealed their chatbots earlier this month. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is also reportedly looking to develop a similar AI of his own.

Cybersecurity expert M.H. Homaei wrote in February that AI of this kind also poses “several security risks that organizations must be aware of to protect their sensitive data and reputation.” A chatbot’s effectiveness depends on clients feeding it valuable data, which can leave it vulnerable to data breaches. OpenAI revealed on Sunday that due to a bug, some of its users’ personal and payment information was briefly visible online.

Source: Russia Today

March 26, 2023

Cyprus will join the SPP to cooperate with the National Guard of New Jersey, Defence Minister says

Cyprus will sign in order to become a member of the State Partnership Programme (SPP), putting into effect its cooperation with the National Guard of New Jersey on a number of issues, the Minister of Defence, Michalis Giorgallas, has said, adding that in the context of this cooperation, Cyprus will gain experience, know-how and information about technologically upgraded weapon systems.

In statements on Sunday and responding to a media question, the Minister expressed his ‘satisfaction’ with the content of and the climate that prevailed in his consultations with the Minister of National Defence of Greece and the Chief of Hellenic National Defence General Staff during his recent visit to Athens.

He added that ‘Greece and Cyprus are coordinating, moving forward and getting organized to face common threats’. To this end, he added, it was agreed to create a joint body for consultations and coordination between the two countries on defence issues.

He noted that, in the coming weeks, the first meeting of the two Ministries’ staff will take place to draw up the agenda with common issues of interest, which will be discussed at ministerial level.

The first issue, he said, was the agreement signed last Monday, which gives the right to the 17 countries that signed the agreement for obtaining military material through joint procurement. The Minister said Nicosia and Athens will look into how to implement and utilise this agreement and how they can jointly obtain military equipment supplies.

The second ‘and very important’ issue, he said, was the upgraded relationship that Greece and Cyprus have with the USA.

He added that the cooperation with the USA would take ‘a more concrete form’ in a few hours, noting that, Cyprus will sign its inclusion in the SPP, effectively implementing cooperation on a number of issues with the National Guard of New Jersey which, as he noted, is Senator Robert Menendez’s home state. ‘In the context of this cooperation, Cyprus will draw experiences, know-how and even information regarding technologically upgraded weapon systems”, he said.

As he noted, his Ministry will welcome on March 30 a large delegation from New Jersey, while a Cypriot delegation will also visit the state.

The Minister also noted that, the 3+1 cooperation – Greece, Cyprus, Israel plus the USA – was now “a structured cooperation” which is being implemented with constantly new objectives that are added beyond the exercises or trainings.

Source: Cyprus News Agency