As long as our country remains under occupation and Turkey threatens with new facts, the National Guard must be on high alert, as the pre-eminent force of deterrence and protection of our statehood and our national sovereignty, Defence Minister Haralambos Petrides said, adding that for these reasons it is imperative to strengthen and continuously upgrade our defence.
We are steadily moving forward, he stressed, in the acquisition of new weapon systems necessary under the circumstances.
In his address at the National Guard Medal Ceremony, read by the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Demokritos Zervakis, the Minister said that in this extremely critical period we are going through, with the increasing challenges from Turkey at every opportunity, its destabilizing actions in the EEZ and the partial opening of Varosha, which is a clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions, we are obliged to be vigilant and be on constant alert to deal with all the risks that may arise.
He pointed out that the Government's goal is to put an end to this unacceptable situation and to resolve the Cyprus problem through diplomatic means.
"We are aware of our responsibilities and realize that there is no other way than to claim our right with all the legal means at our disposal, using our status as a European country, in combination with the alliances we are building and the enhanced geopolitical importance of our island," he said.
The Minister congratulated the officers for their commitment to the sacred task of defending the homeland, a mission, he noted, which requires fortitude, will and moral virtues that have proven to characterise you.
"In this volatile environment, keep your spirits high and continue to offer your services to your country with the same dedication," he added.
Source: KYPE
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