Filenews 15 May 2022
A multinational civil-military cooperation exercise under the name "ARGONAUTS 2022" [also known as Argonaftis 2022], takes place from 16 to 20 May 2022 in the sea, air and land area of the Republic of Cyprus with the participation of the Republic of Cyprus, Greece, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the USA and Israel.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Defence, the exercise, which had been postponed in the previous two years due to the pandemic, is being carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Civil Defence Force and the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, in planning and coordination of the Geef, while in various phases a number of state agencies and services will participate.
In the framework of the exercise, as mentioned, the Special National Plans (ECA) "ESTIA" and "TEFKROS" concerning the reception of civilians from neighbouring areas, as well as the treatment of Search and Rescue incidents within the area of responsibility of the Republic of Cyprus, will be implemented.
It is added that in the 1st phase of the exercise will take place from 16 to 20 May 2022 and will concern a paper exercise of the states participating in the informal group of NEO CG (Non-combatant Evacuation Operations Coordination Group) for the implementation of the process of evacuation of civilians from a neighbouring country of crisis and their repatriation.
The 2nd phase (17-19 May), which will be executed for the first time, concerns a paper exercise and the implementation of the ECA "ESTIA", with a scenario of evacuation of civilians from a crisis area. This phase will take place at the port of Limassol.
Finally, according to the Ministry of Defence, the 3rd phase of the exercise, which will take place within the framework of the Distinguished Visitors' Day (DVDay), will take place on May 20th in a sea area south of Cyprus and concerns the implementation of the ECA "TEFKROS", with a scenario of dealing with a serious maritime accident on the high seas. This phase will be attended by the "ZENON" Coordination Center, distinguished visitors, diplomats and observers from abroad.
