AKEL states once again its support for the reduction of military service.
Nevertheless, as a Party we want to stress that the issue was raised at a wrong point in time, given that the negotiations underway on the Cyprus problem are at a critical point. People are wondering: how are the government’s statements in favor of a solution by the end of 2016, as well as the long-standing position of the Greek Cypriot side for demilitarization consistent with the hastened decision to recruit three thousand professional soldiers?
Besides the political issue, the government pronouncements also raise a number of other issues:
– By what criteria, with what funds and on the basis of which Law and what regulations will the recruitment of professional soldiers be done?
– On the basis of what planning and when has this plan been implemented so as the Cyprus National Guard will not lose its combat effectiveness as a result of the reduction of military service?
It is obvious that the government has no answers to the above critical questions raised which is why it is remaining silent, regardless of the negative consequences that may arise, both with regards the credibility of the Greek Cypriot side in the negotiations, as well as for the combative capacity of the National Guard and therefore for the defense of our country.