The Cyclops (Cyprus Centre for Land Open Seas and Port Security) is getting both a facilities and technology facelift, with additional grounds and even more advanced equipment being added to a centre that’s proved to be much more than a mythological one eyed guardian of security, playing a decisive role in the implementation of the Amaltheia plan, a maritime corridor to Gaza and Estia, the crisis management programme called upon during fires or
The Larnaca based Centre, one of its kind in the Eastern Mediterranean and created as a result of deepening Cypriot-American ties, is being further enriched, just two years after the launching of its operations, with a view to further improving its effectiveness as an established specialised training ground for more than 2 thousand officials from more than 20 countries across the region and beyond.
Philenews was on-site for an extensive tour of the Training Centre, equipped with top of the range tools, valued at millions of euro and used to detect weapons of mass destruction and hazardous, toxic materials. Guiding reporters through the facilities was Centre Director Chrysilios Chrysiliou, who briefed us on the Cyclops facilitating role as crises unfold in the region as well as work to extend the grounds and upgrade its possibilities.
Chrysiliou praised the interest shown by President Christodoulides in the centre’s operations and development, also given the fact that he played a significant role in its launching, as a foreign minister, following a statement of intent signed by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Current foreign minister Constandinos Kombos is also closely involved visiting the facilities on many occasions, as the ministry is the administrator.
A NICOSIA-WASHINGTON DEEPENING RELATIONS ELEMENT
Chrysiliou noted that CYCLOPS, under the exclusive ownership of the Republic of Cyprus, in charge of its management and operations, is a characteristic example of enhanced US-Cyprus relations, with the country providing the plot to build the Centre, beyond operation expenses and further upgrades, while the US gave initial funding, equipment and continued specialised training.
The Training Centre was launched as a result of the need to provide training in the fields of terrorism, dealing with the illegal proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (biological, chemical, nuclear, radioactive and explosives), improving immigration controls implementation procedures, the Law of the Sea, cybersecurity and other applications connected to state and citizen safety.
Chrysiliou informed Philenews that participants in specialised programmes include state officials from security institutions, such as police, immigration departments and radioactive management specialists, while countries taking part are now exceeding 20, mostly from across the region, such as Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Morocco and Tunisia, as well the Balcans.
Instructors include both foreign, including American and Cypriot experts from coordinating organisations, based on their knowledge in various fields and having received additional training for more than a year.
During the first year of its operations, 30 training sessions were conducted with 900 participants, while in the 2nd year the number went up to 40 training sessions with a thousand participants. This year, they are expected to go over 50. Given this successful outcome, the decision was reached to extend and upgrade the Centre’s structures, in order to facilitate additional training and also improve quality.
‘Work will hopefully be completed by mid next year’, Chrysiliou said.
The Centre is also a source of financial benefits, both through income from training sessions as well as strengthening the local economy, with more than a million euro a year, as trainees are also visitors to the island. More than 2 thousand people have stayed at Larnaca hotels over the past two years during their participation in training programmes.
Photography: Andonis Andoniou
