Plenary Session - 7th July 2022
Ladies and gentlemen,
Before the agenda, I would like to refer to three tragic accidents that shook our country and plunged the National Guard into mourning.
Last Sunday, the funeral was held in a climate of profound mourning for the contract soldier Panagiotis Gianniou, who was seriously injured a few days ago during a planned training activity and passed away on the third day of his hospitalization. The unfortunate youth was injured while making a jump from a helicopter in a sea area in Lara. Panayiotis Giannios was recruited to the National Guard in 2016 as a Contracted Soldier with the rank of Corporal of Commando and served in the Special Operations Company of the Commando Command. The parents of the late SYOP proceeded to donate their son's organs, thus giving life to other fellow human beings.
I would like to remind you that about two months ago we mourned the loss of another SYOP, Natalie Neophytou, who succumbed to her injuries when the jeep-type vehicle in which the young soldier was travelling with a cadet reserve officer and a conscript soldier overturned. The twenty-seven-year-old had been serving as an armoured fighting vehicle operator with the 2nd Ili of the 28th Armoured Fighting Vehicle Division in Corno for almost two months.
Unfortunately, the list is long. A year ago, Engineering Captain Xanthos Kyriakou, thirty-two years old, died on duty during a scheduled training exercise in the Trooditissa area, when the rope he was tethered with cut, cutting the thread of his life. Xanthos Kyriakou graduated from the Evelpidon Military School in 2010 with the rank of Lieutenant Engineer. He served as a platoon and company commander in the 70th Engineer Battalion, sub-commander of the 20th Engineer Company and platoon commander of the Landmine Clearance Platoon. He attended the Engineer's basic rifle school and attended training related to his specialty. Shortly before the fatality he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
The two young men and the young girl were distinguished for their philanthropy, morals and professionalism. During the performance of their duties they demonstrated zeal and a high sense of responsibility. Their funerals were held at public expense and with military honours. At this point I would like to mention that the issue of the safety of National Guard personnel and the level of security, maintenance and control of weapon systems and other equipment is of concern to the Parliamentary Defence Committee.
I hope that this will be the last time that we mourn the death of our fellow human beings in the line of duty, let alone young people.
I now call upon you to observe one minute's silence in their memory.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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