The issue of the operation of the firing ranges in Kalo Chorio and Tseri is expected to be put under the microscope of the parliamentary Defense Committee again, with the Parliament returning to the two issues after the developments of recent months and the announcements of the Ministry of Defense.
As far as the Kalo Chorio firing range is concerned, the discussion acquires particular importance after the fire that broke out in the summer, after a training activity of the National Guard, and threatened the communities of the area. Following the incident, a meeting was held between the Minister of Defense Vassilis Palmas and the Chief of the National Guard with the community leaders of Agia Anna, Kalo Chorio, Psevda, Mosfiloti and Pyrgai, during which a series of immediate measures were agreed.
Among other things, it was decided to tighten the protocols of the National Guard for the operation of the firing range, as well as to review the standing orders regarding firing and their permitted limits. At the same time, the National Guard undertook the maintenance and opening of the fire safety zones around the field, while the installation of a permanent surveillance system, either with personnel or with cameras, was put up for consideration. It was also agreed that local authorities will be informed in a timely and detailed manner about any planned activity at the firing range.
In the same context, it was decided to record the damage to houses and plantations and to pay compensation, while the Ministry of Defense stated that wider compensatory measures for the area will be considered. At the same time, a new meeting with the representatives of the communities had been arranged, in order to assess the progress in the implementation of the measures and to record any weaknesses.
The communities had again raised their long-standing request for the firing range to be moved, with the president of the complex acknowledging that this is a difficult task, but underlining the need to start a discussion on the matter.
The Defense Committee is now expected to request information on the measures that have actually been implemented, at what stage the implementation of the Ministry's commitments is and whether there are pending issues or additional needs that have arisen.
The Tseri firing range will also be examined separately, for which the Ministry of Defense has announced its intention to close, but no specific timetable has been set. The MPs are expected to ask for information on when its operation is expected to be terminated, what are the next steps and whether an alternative solution has been found to meet the operational needs of the National Guard.
The issue of the Tseri firing range was inscribed by AKEL MPs Valentinos Fakontis, Andreas Pasiourtidis and Panikos Xiourouppas, while the issue of the Kalo Chorio firing range was recorded following a proposal by ALMA MP, Irini Charalambidou.
