A three-member delegation of the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), led by Brigadier General (ret .) Itzik Bar, head of NEMA, paid a visit to Cyprus, in the context of strengthening bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel in the fields of civil protection, emergency management and crisis and disaster preparedness.
According to a joint announcement by the Ministries of Interior and Defence, at the beginning of the visit, the delegation was welcomed by the Deputy Commander of the Cyprus Civil Defence Force, Theodoros Lemoniatis, who presented the role, responsibilities and capabilities of the Civil Defence. The meeting also discussed the promotion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a relevant Work Plan between the two countries.
The Minister of Interior, Mr. Constantinos Ioannou, with a delegation from the National Emergency Management Authority of Israel, Nicosia, 4 September 2026.It is noted that in the context of the visit, meetings were held with representatives of the Ministry of Interior and Civil Defense, the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard, the Crisis Management Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Geological Survey Department, the "ZENON" Coordination Center and the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (KSED), as well as the Cyprus Regional Air Firefighting Station (CRAFS). Professor George Boustras, Advisor to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, also participated in the meetings.
"The delegation also had separate meetings with the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Defence, during which the prospects for further strengthening cooperation between Cyprus and Israel in areas of common interest related to preparedness and emergency management were discussed," it added.
"During its stay in Cyprus, the Israeli delegation had the opportunity to be informed about the existing framework, structures and capabilities of the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of civil protection, coordination and crisis management, search and rescue, monitoring of natural hazards and aerial forest firefighting," the announcement states.
In this context, visits were made to coordination centers and facilities of the Services involved, including facilities of the Civil Defense, the Training Center and the Search and Rescue Station in Limassol, the Coordination Center "ZENON" and the JRCC, as well as the Cyprus Regional Air Firefighting Station (CRAFS).
Particular emphasis was placed on the exchange of experiences and know-how, on training and the development of practical fields of cooperation, as well as on the continuation of the elaboration of the Memorandum of Understanding.
The meeting ended with the signing of the relevant Work Plan 2026-2027, with the aim of completing the actions that have been determined.
"The common goal of the two sides is to further strengthen the cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel through the exchange of know-how in the field of emergency management," the statement concludes.
