The Republic of Cyprus is one of the top partners of France in the Eastern Mediterranean region, Captain Paul Merveilleux Du Vignaux, commanding officer of the French frigate Auvergne said on Monday, during a press conference that was given aboard the frigate, which has docked at Larnaca port.
Du Vignaux said that “our mission improves security and stability in an impartial way. That’s why the French navy has been deploying for decades and even centuries in Eastern Med, which is of first importance for France and Europe prosperity.”
He went on to say that “this vision is shared between France and the Republic of Cyprus, as a member of the European Union and one of the top partners of France in the region. We particularly appreciate the way the Cyprus authorities welcome the French navy for port visits or aircraft deployments, may it be for one ship or aircraft, or in support to the carrier strike group.”
“Of course, considering the geographic position of Cyprus, your country is a major strategic place for the support of our naval operations; there can’t be efficient and sustainable operations without strong support and Cyprus is a centrepiece of this support,” the Captain said.
He also noted that “the Cyprus navy is a top partner of the French navy, for exercises as well as operations, and it is very important that we keep on working together that way. It is proof of our strong mutual confidence.”
According to Du Vignaux, Auvergne is the 5th of a series of 8 multi-mission frigates. She is 142 m. long and was commissioned 3 years ago and since 2018 she has deployed in many areas, particularly in Eastern Med, but also in the Indian Ocean. He also noted that today there are about 150 crew members, adding that ” the FREMM class destroyer is equipped with a cutting-edge technology, and especially in anti-submarine warfare with the state-of-the-art sonars and combat system.”
He went on to say that last year, Auvergne was awarded the anti-submarine warfare excellence award by the US Navy, “to recognize our skills in this field. She has tremendous skills under and also above water, in operations of sea control, strategic strikes on ground with the naval cruise missiles, support to special operations, and so on.”
The Captain said that Auvergne deploys in Eastern Med for a few weeks from now to January. Actually, it is not her first time here : Auvergne has visited Cyprus 11 times these last 3 years.
He noted that France, as a Mediterranean country and a European Union member, ensures an almost continuous presence in this strategic area with naval and navy air assets. “And, these days, the simultaneous deployment of an ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft in Paphos underlines how important France considers this part of the Mediterranean Sea. Our mission here could be summed up in three words: operate, cooperate, stabilize,” he added.
He also noted that “next Friday, we will conduct a QUAD (East Mediterranean Coordinated Military Initiative) exercise with the Cyprus and Italian Navy. This kind of cooperation underlines the quality of our relationship and also the fact that France is a credible and reliable partner.”
Asked if there are plans for the arrival in Cyprus of other French warships and their possible participation in exercises in the eastern Mediterranean region, the Captain said that “France tries to keep a permanent presence of its naval ships here in the Eastern Med. This time is the mission of Auvergne and later on will be other ships in the area. I do not have any specific information of what kind of ships and what ships will be, usually is a frigate or a destroyer,” he added.
He went on to say that “the deployment of French naval ships in the area is always in location to work with the Cyprus navy and the Cyprus air force, and we take all opportunity of co-operation and all men will cooperate with the Cyprus forces next Friday.”
Invited to say if the exercise on Friday will take place in international waters or in Cyprus’ territorial waters, he said that usually it is in the Cyprus territorial waters, “but we can operate anywhere else, in high seas if it`s better.”
Replying to a question about the relationship between France and Cyprus, Du Vignaux said that it is a very old one and that during the last years this relationship has been stronger and stronger. “Just consider that in naval issues the French navy has been deploying very regularly during the last decades in this area. Because as I said Eastern Med it has always been but these times specifically is a very important area for France security and Europe security as well,” he added.
He said that Cyprus provides the French navy a very strong support for port visits or aircraft deployments in Paphos or visits in Limassol and Larnaca, “where we are always very welcome and we have logistic support facilities as well, which is very appreciated by French navy.”
“I would say that the relationship between French and French navy particularly and Cyprus forces is stronger and stronger and that all these port visits and all the exercises we contact together, contribute to reinforce this relationship,” he concluded.
Source: Cyprus News Agency