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Heated exchanges on army reform plan
By Jacqueline Theodoulou
A HEATED and long discussion yesterday kicked off Parliament’s evaluation of the Defence Ministry’s plans to reform the National Guard.

Among the topics discussed at the House Defence Committee was the much-talked-about reduction in military service from 24 to 19 months.

Speaking after the four-hour meeting, which took place behind closed doors, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said the Committee had been informed in detail over the surveys that have been carried out for the reform and service reduction.

“There was an intense discussion over various issues,” said Papacostas. “Some fears and views were expressed by the deputies.”

Asked how it was possible immediately to reduce military service when the entire reform is expected to span over 10 years, the minister said the reduction would start being implemented in two years’ time, when the reform would already have begun.

“The reduction of service will be a result of the reform. There are no dangers, there are no fears; we have examined the matter in depth,” said Papacostas.

Regarding the reform, the minister said the aim was to create faster, smaller and more flexible units.

Committee Chairman Yiannakis Omirou of EDEK said any actions to change the NG or reduce military service must be taken with great care, so they don’t affect the fighting abilities of the army.

“Times are hard, Turkish expansion is not reassuring – we see what is going on in the Aegean – Greece’s national sovereign rights are being threatened and here in Cyprus we can’t see any decline in Turkish bigotry,” said Omirou. “Therefore, it is the House Defence Committee’s patriotic obligation to be alert and carry out its duties in a non-negotiable manner.”





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