President renews pledge to increase defence expenditure

Renewing his pre-election pledge to allocate 2 per cent of the GDP to military equipment programmes, President Nikos Christodoulides watched National Guard operational manoeuvres on Thursday to mark the army’s 60th anniversary.

“Strengthening the country’s defence was not only a priority, but the least obligation towards the people of Cyprus as long as the illegal Turkish occupation continues,” the president said.

Christodoulides said efforts to enhance the island’s deterrent power would continue and praised the work done so far, including the creation of a semi-professional army.

This, he said, called for “courageous decisions”.

Referring to the international dimension of the National Guard, Christodoulides said most of the EU member states were also members of Nato, adding that Cyprus was cooperating with many states in defence matters, including France and the US.

“If we want to look to the future with optimism, to pursue the role we all talk about for a geopolitical Europe, we should collectively work to strengthen the defence of the EU.”

Looking back, he said the National Guard’s purpose in 1964 was confined to defence issues, however today it is “certainly multifaceted” and addresses “terrorism, immigration and creating conditions of security and stability in the region”.

Christodoulides said he was “especially proud” of the National Guard and assured that, “as I promised during the pre-election period, because I never forget my pre-election promises, our aim is to reach 2 per cent (of GDP) in expenditure regarding National Guard equipment programmes”, he said, stressing that this was separate from the defence ministry budget.