Filenews 10 January 2021 - by Frixos Dalitis
The Ministry of Defence is going through a fruitful period, implementing plans to further strengthen the armed forces and shield the Republic of Cyprus. This is sent as a message by the political head of the Ministry Charalambos Petridis, taking stock of his six-month presence at the helm of the Ministry of Defence.
In his interview with "F" he refers to the plans for the National Guard's equipment program and reveals the planning for the next period. At the same time, it makes an assessment of the strength of the armed forces in relation to the challenges it faces in terms of Turkish aggression on land and sea. It assesses the agreement with the US and analyses the implementation of the defence agreement with France. It also reveals the design of a defence memorandum with the United Arab Emirates as well as cooperation on armaments programmes with Israel. It highlights the diplomatic actions under way at all levels focusing on the EU. As he says characteristically, the conditions have now matured to classify the Eastern Mediterranean as an area of maritime interest, in an attempt to create a strong European mound of Turkish provocation. In this context, he notes, efforts are also intensifying in the new year to ensure a permanent presence of forces from EU member states in the region.
- Six months after taking office at the Ministry of Defence, what do you take stock of, at a time of particularly difficult and with many challenges in many areas?
Indeed, we are going through a difficult time, with the epidemic having reversed the social and economic stability of our lives and Turkey escalating its aggression. Yet for the Ministry of Defence, which operates in the longer term, it has been a fruitful period. The Republic of Cyprus has been further shielded. We have continued the beneficial strategy of defence and military alliances and strengthened the strength of our armed forces, both in terms of training and equipment, with one of the biggest programmes of recent years.
We face the peak of Turkish provocation in the EEZ, Famagusta and the Greek continental shelf. We manage this crisis in cooperation with our allies and in coordination with Greece. We remain calm and faithful to our will to de-escalation.We saw this year for the first time the holding of joint exercises within the framework of the quadri-initiative involving forces from Cyprus, Greece, France and Italy. There was also, much more enhanced, the Medusa exercise in which, in addition to Cyprus, Greece and Egypt which participated in previous years, we had the participation of France and the United Arab Emirates.
On 1 September the US announced its decision to temporarily lift the embargo on the sale of US non-lethal weapons to the Republic of Cyprus and at the same time to start providing military training and training to Armed Forces officers.
I would like to point out the conduct of the 1st joint co-training between the special forces of the Republic of Cyprus and the Usa, in addition to humanitarian or search and rescue operations.
Also, for the first time, the submission of the necessary supporting documents of the graduate students and all those invited for classification was implemented and implemented by electronic procedure. It was necessary in order to implement seamlessly the classification of recruits of the 2020 ESSO in pandemic conditions. At the same time, however, it was one of the most important reforms that will continue in the coming years.
- What are your goals and priorities for the new years? Have you designated any action plan as the Ministry of Defence?
- The Ministry of Defence always has an action plan which is enriched and adapted according to developments. Our objectives, which stem from the plan we have drawn up, include the shielding of the Republic of Cyprus through defence cooperation agreements with friendly countries, the strengthening of the National Guard by modern means and the strengthening and development of structures and procedures related to personnel and citizens.
At the diplomatic level, for the first time in its history, the Republic of Cyprus has so many broad defence agreements with neighbouring and friendly countries inside and outside the EU. We are investing in strengthening existing agreements but also in concluding new ones. Typically, a new Memorandum of Defence Cooperation with a Gulf force, namely the United Arab Emirates, is already being prepared.
Following interventions by myself and my predecessor in international for a, we see that conditions within the European Union have matured to classify the Eastern Mediterranean as an area of maritime interest, in an attempt to create a strong European embankment to Turkish provocation. In this context, we will also intensify our efforts in the new year to ensure a permanent presence of forces from EU Member States in the region. The beginning has already been made with the implementation of the quadri-party force with the participation of the KD, Greece, France and Italy.
As far as defence is concerned, we continue our multi-year plan aimed at upgrading and modernising the National Guard in order to make it more robust and flexible. At the same time, and despite the difficulties, we are significantly enriching our equipment programme.
Finally, a major effort is under way to create a computerised system for cheques and expropriated pieces, while improvements are also being considered in the process of service of individual invitation sheets (PDPs) to reservists. At an advanced stage is the connection of the reservist file to the police file in order to improve the process of invitations and presentations of reservists for trainings and exercises in the ranks of the National Guard.
- Is the American arms market now in the plans of the Republic of Cyprus? Have any actions been taken? How is cooperation with the United States progressing in terms of exercises and/or training? Are there any scheduled exercises?
- As you know in recent years, bilateral relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States have been significantly upgraded in the areas of security and defence. The adoption of the East Med Act in December 2019 highlighted the strategic importance of Cyprus and the importance for American foreign policy of the cooperation we have developed with Greece and Israel.
This law supports by the US the strengthening of the axis of cooperation between Israel, Cyprus and Greece in the region mainly on security, energy and counter-terrorism issues.
Following Washington's announcement of a temporary lifting of the embargo on the sale of AMERICAN non-lethal weapons, a Joint Committee of Experts was set up to investigate the possibility of the US supplying non-lethal military equipment.
As part of the provision of military training and training by the U.S. to Armed Forces officers, the National Guard has been granted a position to attend the U.S. National Defence University College of International Security Affairs, for the academic year 2021 – 2022.
The Ministry of Defence is in contact with the US Embassy in Nicosia and the US Department of Defence to ensure additional short-term training in the areas of maritime security, cyber defence and leadership development.
In the field of military training, it is worth noting that last September two high-speed vessels of the US Navy Special Forces sailed to Marie. During their presence in Cyprus, joint exercises and co-trainings were carried out with vessels of our Navy special forces, concerning cooperation in logistics and navigation.
A joint exercise between US and Greek special forces is planned in the near future, to be held in Greece. It is worth noting that the USA participates every year through the multinational exercises "ARGONAUTIS" and "NEMISIS", which are held in Cyprus.
Upgrading the role of the ND in the wider region
- We expect further information on military cooperation with France and upgrade projects in military infrastructure of the Republic of Cyprus, such as the naval base in Marie and the air base in Paphos. Where is the issue and how much has the pandemic affected these designs?
-The agreement with France aims to ensure peace and stability in the region as well as cooperation to meet modern challenges. The aspects take into account the transnational agreements between us and our common interests within the framework of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy.
Among other things, the agreement provides for cooperation in the fields of armaments and defence technology and training of personnel in France's military schools. It was also agreed to carry out joint exercises and organise mutual visits within the framework of activities of the Armed Forces of the two countries.
Everything provided for in the agreement is being put into practice. Indicative are the joint exercises carried out with the participation of forces from France, as well as others already scheduled for the new year, if the pandemic conditions permit.
Upgrading military infrastructure in the Republic of Cyprus was and remains one of our great goals. Possible solutions are being considered and we are in consultation to reach an agreement that will bring substantial benefit and enhance the role of the Republic in the wider region.
- We have recently seen the extension of military cooperation in regards to exercises in the region with the addition of new countries, such as the UNITED States. Should we expect other countries to be added to these partnerships, such as Jordan?
- The Ministry of Defence has developed cooperation in areas of common interest both with countries in the region and with many European and other friendly countries operating in the region. Bilateral and Tripartite Defence Cooperation Programmes have been signed and implemented in cooperation with the armed forces of foreign states.
The participation of members of our Armed Forces in joint exercises, trainings and training programmes in Cyprus or abroad, as well as various exchanges of visits by officials of the Ministries of Defence and the Armed Forces with these countries enhance the operational readiness of the National Guard and promote our national interests.
We consider it important to add countries to joint exercises on the basis of the already signed Bilateral and Tripartite Cooperation Programmes, such as the participation of the United Arab Emirates and France in the "MEDUSA" exercise held in Alexandria in December, and it is certainly not excluded that more countries will enter.
As far as Jordan is concerned, we already have a Bilateral Defence Cooperation Programme in place, we have participated in joint exercises and our intention is to strengthen this cooperation.
Above all, it's safety and health.
- How does the Ministry of Defence affect the budget so far?
- After all that I have said to you, it will be regrettable that the House will not allow us to continue our work and programmes seamlessly. We expect and hope that the parties will reach an agreement in time. As our plan has a high degree of complexity and involves many external factors, each day that passes without agreement makes it difficult to implement.
- Several parties in the context of the budget consultations have asked to see you. What did you talk about? Did they make something a condition?
- We have so far had a meeting with the President of the EDEC and the President of the Solidarity Movement. Mr Sizopoulos and Mrs Theocharous discussed the state budget and the concern caused by its vote against it. I want to make it clear that nothing has been made a condition of an impending deposit or vote. Discussions focused on matters of the National Guard, in the context of the excellent cooperation we have with all parties.
- How is the situation in relation to the pandemic in the National Guard and how much has it affected it?
- The pandemic couldn't leave the National Guard unaffected. As one of the largest organizations in the area in number of personnel we have had cases but the situation is controlled. The number in relation to the staff is low, which testifies to the seriousness and professionalism with which our staff treats it, in relation to compliance with the protection measures. At the same time, however, the daily training activities of the National Guard have been adapted accordingly in order to comply with the measures provided for by the health protocols. Above all is the safety and health of all staff. Clear instructions have been given for faithful and strict compliance with the measures provided for in the health protocols. Everyone's wish is that once the vaccination program has started, the return to normality will gradually begin.
- How do you evaluate the institution of SYOp so far and how do you proceed more generally in relation to the upgrade plans of the National Guard?
- The upgrading of the National Guard includes a wide range of actions which include the living conditions of the national guardsmen, military installations, the supply of modern clothing and personnel footwear. A recent example is the signing of an agreement with EAC to replace existing energy-powered luminaires, with LED-type luminaires, in National Guard camps and facilities. The institution of SYOp is relatively new and is under evaluation. The first SYOP recruitments were made in 2016 following the decision to reduce military service to 14 months. Improvements have been made and are being made to the terms of the contract signed by the SOI, based on empirical data. SYOps are now an integral part of the National Guard's defence planning and contribute to maintaining the Force's operational readiness.
The Israeli market in our first choices
- In the planning, as has been mentioned, the strengthening of the equipment programme. Have the objectives been set and which ones are oriented? It was intended to strengthen equipment related to drones and other intelligent weaponry in cooperation mainly with Israel. Is there a development? Where's the point?
-Our equipment programme is based on a specific plan, in which the areas in need of further reinforcement are defined, on the basis of the modern needs that arise in order to make the National Guard a capable deterrent force. Despite the adversity caused to the economy by the pandemic, the plan is being implemented. A few weeks ago, a supplementary budget of €75 million for the year 2020 was approved by the Parliament, which was implemented. This item concerns the upgrading of existing weapons systems and the procurement of new ones to further strengthen our defence capabilities. We have already concluded agreements providing for the procurement of weapons systems and instruments that will be implemented gradually.
With Israel, the neighbouring country with a great tradition of technologically advanced defence hardware, we maintain excellent relations and have concluded important defence agreements. So it's our first choice to supply systems based on the needs of the National Guard. Drones, of course, are on our list of needs.
