The FBI in Cyprus

By enlisting the help of the FBI - as announced recently - Cyprus is making an effort to deal with the problem of corruption that has been a blight on the country's reputation for so many years.

The phenomenon grew out of proportion over the decades, especially compared to Cyprus' size. Hence, in an effort to enhance the capabilities of the Cypriot state mechanism, it was judged essential to bring in outside help; enter the US agents with the expertise and tools to root out extensive corruption. They could play a crucial role in this fight. The overarching aim is to give Cyprus the know-how and information it needs to prevent and expose financial crimes.

The challenge is, indeed, formidable and it remains to be seen whether the Cypriot president is in a position to succeed in this effort when he is up against some very powerful interests, both domestic and foreign.