Objectives aimed at strengthening the defence and security of the country, as well as strengthening the functioning of its structures, the Ministry of Defence has set, through the most rational use of the resources at its disposal, Defence Minister Haralambos Petrides said on Saturday, referring to the Ministry's strategic objectives, which are based on six pillars.
At the same time, the Defence Minister announced that the Ministry of Finance has come up with an improved proposal for the final resolution of the pension issue of Contracted Petty Officers and that it has "today submitted a bill that strengthens the viability of the institution of SYOPs, which allows them to remain in service until they reach the age of 42.
In his address to the conference in Nicosia of the Pancyprian Federation of Reserve Officers, which this year celebrates 55 years since its foundation, Mr. Petridis pointed out that "the achievements of the 1974 invasion continue to maintain in Cyprus the greatest historical and political anachronism in Europe", stressing that "as long as this exists, the National Guard will continue to maintain and strengthen its deterrent capacity against any aggression, while at the same time responding to the new modern challenges and obligations arising from the participation of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU".
Referring to the six pillars, the HRH said that in the first pillar, which is the strengthening of the operational capacity of the National Guard, "we have made steady progress in the implementation of the armament programme developed in cooperation with the National Guard at the highest financial levels of the last 20 years, radically upgrading the capabilities to counter land, sea and air threats."
With regard to the second pillar, which concerns the strengthening of defence cooperation relations with other states, Petridis stressed the bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation with more than 15 countries, participation in multinational activities and exercises that give prestige to the Republic of Cyprus and are beneficial for the personnel.
"We upgraded cooperation with the US" and "we achieved the complete lifting of the embargo, which I personally consider a great diplomatic success and we are continuously participating in the International Military Training (IMET) programme," he stressed.
He also said that a Bilateral Agreement for the Provision of Services and Administration (ACSA) was concluded and the National Guard was wheeled into a State Partnership Program (SPP) with the State of New Jersey.
An important step, according to the Secretary of Defense, was the signing of a bilateral cooperation program with Germany and the appointment of a Defense Attaché for the first time. We are at the stage of negotiations for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Petrides said that "we support financially and administratively the participation of Cypriot entities in 17 programmes of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the European Defence Fund (EDF)" and added that in cooperation with the Research and Innovation Foundation (RDI), the MoD has recently launched new research and development projects in dual-use technologies, raising a total of 3 million euros.
"We are implementing reform actions involving electronic recruitment services such as electronic enlistment, declaration of data of male conscripts turning 16 years of age, application for recruitment of SYOPs, issuance of type A certificate and interconnection with KEPC KEPO, cadastral department and government hub," he added.
He also said that the interconnection with the Cyprus Police Force has finally resolved the problem regarding the identification and conscription of unregistered reservists, adding that a total of 10 reservists have been served since the launch of the reservist identification system.600 FAPs.
In the 4th pillar concerning the simplification and improvement of the Legislative and Regulatory Framework for the fight against desertion, which has been reduced to 1.8%. Petridis, "the possibility is now given to the CMO, through legislation, to check whether an athlete meets the necessary recruitment criteria and then issue a health card."
He also said that a legislative regulation of the working hours of the members of the Army of the Republic and the AF was made and amendments were passed to the Regulations of the Army of the Republic concerning the Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Army, in order to fill gaps identified. Further amendments are being prepared for 2023.
He also said that an additional 3 Brigadier, 6 Colonels, 14 Lieutenant Colonels, 9 Majors were given additional posts covering administrative needs and "we have upgraded graduates of the higher military schools of non-commissioned officers of three years of study who will now be placed in the A5 (2nd tier) and A6(ii) scales."
He also said that the Army has been given additional posts of Brigadier, 6 Colonels, 14 Lieutenant Colonels, 9 Majors covering administrative needs and "we have upgraded the graduates of the higher military schools of non-commissioned officers of three years of study who will now be placed in the A5 (2nd tier) and A6(ii) scales.
Regarding the 5th pillar of enhancing financial and budgetary performance, Mr. Petrides said that the efficient management of financial resources is evident from the absorption rate of the Ministry's budget with an increase from 94% to 96%.
Finally, with regard to the 6th pillar, that of the Ministry's Environmental and Energy Policy, Mr. Petrides said that efforts are being made to reduce the National Guard's operating costs by utilizing renewable energy sources.
He said that by 2023, 6 pillars will be replaced.He added that for the energy saving programme, funding of 19 million euros has been secured from the European Structural Funds, especially the Thaleia Programme, for the installation of photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of approximately 12 MW.
Addressing the reserve officers of all Arms and Corps, Mr. Petrides "your experience, knowledge, and especially your interest and love for the armed forces are truly valuable and can contribute to the formulation of proposals and suggestions in the broader effort to strengthen, modernize and advance the National Guard."
"This is also evident from the organization of today's conference, which deals with critical and complex issues that concern Cyprus, Greece and the countries of our region in general, but also the whole of the societies and governments of the countries of the European Union," he concluded.
Source: CNA
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