Cyprus' government, recognising the role of aviation, considers it of strategic importance to strengthen the country's regional role and increase its air connectivity, Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works, Alexis Vafeades said on Thursday.

The Minister was speaking at an International Conference titled "Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity in Civil and Military Aviation," organised in Larnaca by "The Flight Safety Foundation – Mediterranean" and the "European Association of Aviation Training Organisations."

The Minister said that the Cypriot government and particularly the Ministry of Transport support the work of EATEO and has recently signed with them a Memorandum of corporation.

In his address, Vafeades mentioned that "progress in aviation is of great economic, political and social importance”.

He furthermore stressed the need for a balanced approach to innovation, particularly in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity into the aviation industry.

"Our skies are no longer bound by conventional limits. Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity have both the potential to unlock unique possibilities but can also present formidable challenges," Vafeades said.

He highlighted the importance of safeguarding aviation while embracing these innovations, posing critical questions on how AI can optimize flight routes, enhance safety protocols, reduce environmental impact, and how to protect civil aviation networks from cyber threats.

The Minister also addressed the challenges faced by military aviation, where advanced technology is crucial yet vulnerable.

Training and education were highlighted as essential for maintaining excellence in aviation. Vafeades advocated for advanced training methodologies that integrate traditional expertise with AI-driven simulations, ensuring aviation personnel are equipped to handle modern complexities.

Chairman of EATEO Alessio Quaranta said that in aviation training and education constitute a fundamental factor in maintaining safety and in the development of our transport in general.

“Yet despite this importance training and education organisations have not been represented collectively in the relevant International and European institutions”, he noted.

As a result, he said, decisions were taken without any input from those that are expected to implement them. He added that the non-existence of such representative organisations did not allow the adoption of common practices in training as is the case for all other activities in aviation.

He pointed out that for these reasons and in order to fill this gap back in 2018 the FSF-MED with the encouragement and cooperation of several other Institutions established EATEO with its base and offices in Cyprus.

Director General of the Ministry of Defence Andreas Loukas,, underscored the Republic of Cyprus' commitment to secure aviation in the face of geopolitical complexities.

“Committed to peace, stability and prosperity the Republic of Cyprus is dedicated to enhancing aviation safety while strengthening its cybersecurity resilience against emerging threats”, he said

He added that the Ministry of Defence has implemented new structures and processes, including the establishment of a dedicated Research and Innovation Department. This department, he said, is entrusted with research and innovation responsibilities at national, European, and bilateral cooperation levels.

President of the European Parliament's Committee for the Mediterranean Costas Mavrides, brought attention to the political challenges impacting aviation.

"There are cases where aviation is used as a political instrument between countries, for example, the sanctions imposed on Russian airlines using European airspace. Another example is the legal prohibition by Turkey on Cypriot Airlines using its airspace following the Turkish invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus, with tremendous effects on Cyprus' economy, trade, and tourism," he said.

Mavrides emphasized Turkey’s illegal actions within the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), which pose significant risks to flight safety.