The promotion of regional cooperation with neighbouring states, both within and outside the European Union, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, which have a presence in the Eastern Mediterranean, is a strategic priority for Cyprus, Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides said on Thursday, adding that Turkey’s provocative actions in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the unprecedented rhetoric of direct threats from Ankara require that we remain constantly vigilant.
In his address at the final phase of the “IRIS 2022” exercise, which was held at the Kalo Chorio firing range in Larnaca, the Defence Minister expressed “great satisfaction and pride in noting once again the high level of training, professionalism and efficiency of the National Guard personnel. The real advantage lies in the quality of the human resources and their flourishing morale. It is widely known that the National Guard personnel are the spearhead and an important force multiplier,” he said.
He added that the exercise held today “is the culmination of a continuous and strenuous effort. But this is a one-way street if we seek high operational readiness”, noting that the National Guard personnel “prove in practice that the National Guard is a serious deterrent factor in the effort to safeguard the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and a worthy defender of our homeland against any aggression.”
We are moving forward, he continued, “with co-training both in Cyprus and abroad and we clearly see the extroversion. We have signed agreements with more than 15 countries and the National Guard is providing its personnel with co-training and new experiences,” he said, adding that “this is the direction we are moving in to ensure the integrity of our Republic.”
Petrides also said that “we are closely following the medium-term armament programme in order to make the National Guard a small, flexible semi-professional army with state-of-the-art systems. We have gradually increased the budget for defence and this year we have the highest budget in the last 20 years.”
Asked to elaborate further on the arms programmes, the Defence Minister said that it has already been announced “that the installation of the Green Line electronic system has progressed and is proceeding at a rapid pace. We have already made the new purchases of helicopters but we have also made some contracts which are not to be made public,” he said.
For his part, the Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, congratulated the personnel for the exercise and added that “all these days we have been exercising not only here but all over the free areas of Cyprus. We showed our capabilities, we proved that we know what we can do, the Cypriot people can sleep soundly and be proud of the National Guard.”
As the Lieutenant General said, “especially in this period, during which we are experiencing the deeds and the threats and provocative actions of Turkey on land, sea and air, beyond any concept of international law, with the completion of the final phase of “IRIS – 2022″ we declare to all directions that the security of the Republic of Cyprus is in the hands of capable and determined soldiers. We defend the national sovereignty and sovereign rights of our homeland, we ensure deterrence, which is our main mission, and if it fails, then we will achieve victory.”
Asked whether we are ready for any eventuality, the Chief of the General Staff replied that “we are ready to face anything that might occur and provide options to our political leadership.”
Source: Cyprus News Agency