POLICE have taken what they called ‘draconian” security measures in preparation for the official visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres who arrived in Cyprus last night.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said the force had mounted an operation spearheaded by the special anti-terrorist squad MMAD.
The squad will be working with other branches, including the presidential guard and Israeli security officials who will accompany Peres on his visit.
A police helicopter will be monitoring the Israeli president’s movements and intervene if necessary, the police spokesman said.
“The chief of police has given clear instructions to all involved to be on the highest level of preparedness to ensure that even the slightest problem does not arise,” Katsounotos said.
The state visit will focus on the signing of a number of bilateral agreements between the two countries. Israel and Cyprus have already signed over 20 agreements in various fields.
The official welcoming ceremony for the Israeli President will take place at the presidential palace this morning.
It will be followed with talks between the two sides and signing bilateral agreements on research and development, archaeology and renewable energy sources.
During his stay on the island, Peres will also meet Archbishop Chrysostomos, House President Yiannakis Omirou and main opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades.
Peres was originally due to visit Cyprus at the end of July but it was cancelled.
There have been an increasing number of high-level visits between Cyprus and Israel. President Demetris Christofias visited Israel earlier this year and Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis visited recently.
Cyprus, a traditional ally of Arab countries, was long considered one of Israel’s fiercest critics in Europe. Geopolitical developments in the region have worked to overturn this image, with the two countries finding plenty more in common in recent years.
Relations between the two improved significantly in the last two years, helped by the deteriorating relationship between Turkey and Israel, and the anticipation of large hydrocarbon deposits likely shared by Cyprus and Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean in their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). Turkey’s leaning on Lebanon not to ratify its EEZ agreement with Cyprus and Lebanon’s protests against a similar agreement signed between Cyprus and Israel have also played their part.
Possible collaboration between Israel and Cyprus on the sale, transport and distribution of natural gas from the region has pushed relations forward, boosting ties and encouraging further economic and political relations.
