AKEL has always been in favour of the reduction of compulsory army service in the National Guard, taking of course into account the given economic situation and above all, the defence and operational needs of the Cyprus National Guard in a semi-occupied country.
A comprehensive study had been prepared by the late Defence Minister Costas Papacostas during the Demetris Christofias governance on the reduction of compulsory army service. This study concluded that for the reduction of military conscription to be made feasible the National Guard had be reorganized and the recruitment of several thousand soldiers on long-term contracts at the cost of tens of millions of Euros would be necessary.
Today the government suddenly, without consulting or even informing the political forces and the House of Representatives, announced the reduction of military conscription. We note that the Head of the National Guard at the same time stated before the Parliamentary Committee on Defence that he didn’t know anything about the announcement!
We wonder, on the basis of what plan and when was this plan fulfilled for the government to immediately proceed to a reduced term of conscription?
We hope this government proclamation will not be another pre-election gimmick which will be forgotten the day after the elections, as happened with so many of the President’s electoral pledges.
Stefanos Stefanou
