Cyprus-Forum.com

[LouMag23]

Hi my name is Louis Magos. Allow me to introduce myself. I was born in the 4th of Jan 1994 (17 years old).
I am half greek-cypriot/filipino, yea I know not a very common situation
Anyway I only got 2 months left till I finish my AS-lvls (Edexcel GCE - gr 12) and I currently live in U.A.E.
My dad is cypriot and I was also baptized in a greek orthodox church but I was born in Bahrain. My parents have been living abroad for like 20 years more or less. Since I have been living outside of cyprus all my life, I am not very well fond of the greek language since it is very hard to learn a language when they don't teach it to you in the country you live in.
I plan to study in Sweden for higher education since universities there are tuition-free for eu citizens ^^
Anyway here is where my question arises.. Is it mandatory for me to go to the army? I don't plan to live in cyprus for at least a couple more years. I will only visit occasionally like summer.. So under these circumstances will I be forced to go to the army for like 6 months I suppose? Is there any way to skip it, I really want to focus on my studies right now.. I am pretty sure after I leave the army I might stop studying at all..
Any help would be appreciated.. Efkaristo!

[supporttheunderdog]

Hi LouMag

THis has been debated elsewhere -

http://www.cyprus-forum.com/viewtopic.p ... sc&start=0

This might give you a few clues

[bill cobbett]

Yeh, read the thread above LouMag, to which can add you seem to be liable for service if you stay a day longer than 6 months for your visits, through having a CY father. So look at 6 months as a limit for your stays.

If you travel to CY for any length of time you will have to go in to an NG office, fill in a simple form, show them your passport and your travel tickets and they'll give you an exit permit to give in at the airport on the way out....

but you stay a day longer than 6 months ....and they will nab you.

[Sotos]

If you want to skip it then better don't come to Cyprus until you finish your studies. Are you Cypriot citizen? Because if you are and at your age you might have to do all 24 moths, not just 6.

[LouMag23]

Thnx bill cobbett and supporttheunderdog for the link.. So this means that I have to go to the army right? I am still not sure I think I better go to the NG office and talk to them personally.. I might get away also by showing a study leave statement like I am leaving off to UNI so they might exempt me for that.

If you want to skip it then better don't come to Cyprus until you finish your studies. Are you Cypriot citizen? Because if you are and at your age you might have to do all 24 moths, not just 6.

Are yu sure? According to this link http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/A ... bligations
it says I should have reduced months in the army since I am overseas cypriot and been living outside of cyprus for over 10 years..

[bill cobbett]

Thnx bill cobbett and supporttheunderdog for the link.. So this means that I have to go to the army right? I am still not sure I think I better go to the NG office and talk to them personally.. I might get away also by showing a study leave statement like I am leaving off to UNI so they might exempt me for that.

If you want to skip it then better don't come to Cyprus until you finish your studies. Are you Cypriot citizen? Because if you are and at your age you might have to do all 24 moths, not just 6.

Are yu sure? According to this link http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/A ... bligations
it says I should have reduced months in the army since I am overseas cypriot and been living outside of cyprus for over 10 years..

Yep def reduced 6 months service for overseas Cypriots. Know many overseas CYs who did the reduced 6 month stint.

... but do remember if you're only visiting CY for a holiday, for up to 6 months there's no obligation to serve, but pick up the exit permit as described above... but if you holiday in CY for more than 6 months, you'll be taken away to do the 6 months.

(Can't advise on studies exemption)

[Sotos]

Thnx bill cobbett and supporttheunderdog for the link.. So this means that I have to go to the army right? I am still not sure I think I better go to the NG office and talk to them personally.. I might get away also by showing a study leave statement like I am leaving off to UNI so they might exempt me for that.

If you want to skip it then better don't come to Cyprus until you finish your studies. Are you Cypriot citizen? Because if you are and at your age you might have to do all 24 moths, not just 6.

Are yu sure? According to this link http://www.mfa.gov.cy/mfa/mfa2006.nsf/A ... bligations
it says I should have reduced months in the army since I am overseas cypriot and been living outside of cyprus for over 10 years..

You are right. But according to that document you have to serve 12 not 6 months, since you are under 18.

[rj289]

associated press
Posted: 23 JUNE 2011 at 0214 hrs IST
Nicosia

Cyprus National Guard and Abusive Treatment for Non Greek Speaking Conscripts

Training in the Cypriot Army otherwise known as the Cyprus National Guard has been referred to by many as Hell on Earth. But for non Greek speaking conscripts, hell is a major understatement.

It is unusual for non Greek speaking conscripts to finish their tour of duty in the Cyprus National Guard. Many conscripts commit suicide due to the extreme mental and physical abuse. Most are discharged due to being hospitalized too many times for life threatening injuries inflicted upon them by their commanders and/or fellow conscripts for not following orders. Orders are always barked in Greek and there is no tolerance for disobedience or delay.

The penalties for not following orders are often taken out on the entire platoon which gives plenty of incentive to the rest of the platoon to get even with the conscript that failed.

It is not uncommon for these non Greek speaking conscripts to suffer broken ribs, broken cheek bones, broken limbs, mutilated genitals, or even death. Most injuries are the result of being struck by rifle butts, night sticks or other hard objects.

When a conscript is hospitalized for injuries sustained during training, they are returned to duty after they are determined to be medically fit for service. After a conscript has been hospitalized in for the tenth time during their training, the conscript may be discharged early.

Time spent in the hospital is not simply time off or a way to pass time and avoid duty. For each week spent in the hospital out of service, one month is added to the conscripts required twenty six months.

Human rights violations have been reported to the UN countless times over the past few years. The European Court of Human Rights has given the clear message that the Cyprus is in violation of the EU declaration of human rights.

The camp where the worst abuses have been found is the KEN camp in Paphos.

[Sotos]

rj289 where is the link to the article by associated press? I searched for what you typed and all I found was other forums where you posted the same thing. Nothing in associated press about such article. You just made up the story. So why the lies? Do you think you can dodge the army in this way?

[CBBB]

I know a someone who spoke very little Greek when he did his NG service, he didn't have any problems at all. He was an ex-UK junior karate champion, so if anyone gave him shit he would tell them that if they didn't leave him in peace, when he got out he would find them and kill them!

It worked for him!