Filenews 8 September 2024
The Government's decision, upon completion of their studies in Lyceums and Technical Schools, women have the possibility of voluntary enlistment in the National Guard, with a minimum term of six months and a maximum of 14 months, announced the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, noting that this issue will be put before the Council of Ministers in a few days.
Addressing the anniversary event, entitled "60 years of the National Guard" held tonight at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, the President of the Republic said that the National Guard "was founded in 1964, with the aim of preventing Turkish plans for the partition of our country.
A National Guard that in these 60 years of course has been significantly strengthened, has grown to levels that I am sure no one could have imagined in 1964 when the decision to establish it was taken.
A National Guard of which as a President of Democracy, but primarily as a citizen of the country, I feel proud. We are proud of the National Guard, because as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, it was not uncommon for my visits abroad, especially to all neighbouring states, to hear praise from my interlocutors for the combat worthiness of the National Guard personnel.
And you know very well the ability of the respective National Guards of neighbouring states and for them to feel the need to refer to the combat worthiness of the members of the National Guard and its capabilities in general, it is rightfully something of which we are proud.
The 1964 National Guard has nothing to do with the 2024 National Guard. Today, the National Guard, under the guidance of the Chief, who is doing an excellent job and I want to mention this publicly, is not limited to its purely military duties. In addition to the social work carried out today, the National Guard is a protagonist in dealing with illegal immigration, countering terrorism, firefighting, search and rescue exercises and everything requested by the Cypriot state. And for this reason, the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus is strengthened daily, not only because we have an obligation to do so as long as the illegal Turkish occupation continues, but because the Republic of Cyprus is a proud member state of the EU, in an area of particular geostrategic importance – we all see daily what is happening in our region – and, with our National Guard as a pillar and the strengthening of its deterrent power, We will continue to work to upgrade the status of the Republic of Cyprus, which is the most important thing we have had since 1960.
For our governance, the strengthening of the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus begins through the members of the National Guard. And it is for this reason that very recently, one of our first decisions as the governance of the country, was to upgrade the working conditions of the SYOPs.
It is in this context that very soon – I want to announce it tonight – from 2025, by decision of the Council of Ministers in a few days, and I hope – I am addressing the members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence – that it will pass quickly, including from defence, and girls will have the opportunity to voluntarily enlist in the National Guard, like males, immediately after the completion of the Lyceum and Technical Schools they attend. They will be able to volunteer in the National Guard, with a minimum term of six months and a maximum of 14 months, like their male classmates at 14 months.
I close by repeating what I really feel and what I have really experienced through my discussions with officials of neighbouring states, saying, addressing the Chief and all members of the National Guard, that we are proud of the work you are doing."
