Chief of the National Guard Lt. General Georgios Tsitsikostas paid Germany a visit 29-30 of January at the invitation of United States European Command (USEUCOM) General Christopher G. Cavoli. A press release by the National Guard General Staff says that Lt. General Georgios Tsitsikostas attended for the first time the annual Conference of European countries that have joined the State Partnership Program (SPP), after the ratification of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus in the Program last July. The Conference was attended by Chiefs or representatives from 25 states and its purpose was to strengthen the ties between the states participating in the SPP and support the USEUCOM Strategic and Operational Plan by synchronizing strategies and objectives. On the sidelines of the Conference, the Chief held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts and the USEUCOM Administration, with whom he exchanged views on matters of common interest. The press release notes that the visit highlighted the imp ortance of the extensive network of international partnerships and initiatives developed by the National Guard, which contribute to the upgrading of its operational capabilities and promote security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond. Source: Cyprus News Agency