Cypriot Defence Minister To Arrive In Moscow

Issues of bilateral military and military-technical cooperation will be discussed during an official visit by the Cypriot Defence Minister, Socrates Hasikos, to Moscow beginning today. The press service of the Russian Defence Ministry reported that the visit would last till November 29. The Cypriot Defence Minister will have negotiations with his Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov and with a number of officials from Russia's top brass and defence-industrial sector. According to informed sources, a number of documents are expected to be signed with Rosoboroneksport. Over the past few years Cyprus, or rather its 8,000-strong National Guard, has bought APCs, tanks, rifles and even a anti-aircraft missile system S-300 PMU which in agreement with Greece has been temporally deployed on the Greek island of Crete because of sharp objections voiced by Turkey.