📋 Tender Overview
The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, attended this morning a demonstration of the operational capabilities of the National Guard (NG) that took place in the framework of the events for the 60 years since its establishment, in the area of Zygi.
After the demonstration of the operational capabilities of the National Guard, the President of the Republic in his greeting said: "When we talk about Defence issues, many words are unnecessary.
I am particularly proud of our National Guard. I am proud of the men and women of the National Guard, the officers, the reservists, the national guards, our conscripts, for all that they have been doing all these years to defend first and foremost the Republic of Cyprus.
As long as the continued illegal Turkish occupation exists, strengthening the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus is not only our priority, but a minimum obligation towards the Cypriot people.
At the same time, however, as a member state of the European Union (EU), as a member state that claims to have a specific say and role in the EU, strengthening the National Guard is one of our most decisive goals to achieve what we want together with our partners in the EU.
As Foreign Minister I felt firsthand that without strong defence the foreign policy footprint is clearly smaller. I am very pleased with all the steps that have been taken in recent years.
I would like to assure you today that we will continue and further strengthen our efforts to strengthen the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus, a deterrent power that I strongly believe begins first and foremost with the personnel of the National Guard. All of you, our officers, conscripts, national guards, reservists.
It is for this reason that one of our first actions was to solve a problem that had been pending for many years, within the proper effort of this country to create a semi-professional army, with the institution of Contract Soldiers, where we took bold decisions, to face a challenge that also affected the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus. because we invested significantly in some new executives, who, precisely because of the data that existed, left the National Guard at the first opportunity.
I would like to insist a little more on the European dimension, because it was our perseverance, along with some other Member States, that led the President of the Commission to announce for the first time and to proceed in the immediate future with the appointment of an EU Commissioner for Defence Affairs. And if our big European family really wants to strengthen its international footprint, wants to have a say and a role in international affairs, it should boost its defense spending.
I am well aware that most (EU) Member States are NATO Member States. Certainly, the Organization is a partner, an ally in the effort to face international challenges, but at the same time, if we want as the EU to look to the future with optimism, to claim the role we all say for a geopolitical Europe, we must collectively work to strengthen the EU's defense.
I am pleased that as the Republic of Cyprus we are cooperating with several EU Member States. Let me mention first of all France, with whom we share the same approach to this need of the EU, but at the same time we are working to strengthen our relations with the United States.
In fact, the issues of defence and security have brought us closer together, as have the challenges of the region. These challenges, which the Republic of Cyprus with its role – a role that touches on your role, that of the National Guard – prove in practice that they are part of the solution and not part of the problem.
In 1964, when the National Guard was established, its role was limited exclusively to defence issues. Today, the role of the National Guard is clearly multifaceted, and I know this firsthand, because it is not limited to issues of Defence, but also extends to issues of terrorism, migration issues, the great effort to create conditions of security and stability in the region.
Dear members of the National Guard, Mr. Chief, I am particularly proud as a President of the Republic of Cyprus, but also previously as Minister of Foreign Affairs, when I visited neighboring states, Jordan, Israel, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and heard from my interlocutors the best about the level of our National Guard, the members of our National Guard.
I want to assure you today that, as I promised before the elections, because I am the first not to forget my pre-election promises, our goal is to reach 2% in spending in relation to the armament programs of the National Guard, not the budget of the Ministry of Defense, but the armament programs of our National Guard."
