THE DEFENCE Ministry is promoting a bill that provides an alternative community service for those who claim to have psychological problems in order to escape their National Guard obligations.
Defence Minister Nicos Symeonides said yesterday that the bill was expected to be ready for implementation by the end of the year.
Talking after yesterday’s Defence Ministry budget discussion at the House Finance Committee, Symeonides said the bill “provides an alternative community service for those who pretend to have psychological problems”.
He added that the annual percentage of new soldiers who claim to have mental problems in order to escape their NG service was worrying and much higher than one would expect for Cyprus.
“We believe that this situation undermines social cohesion,” said the minister. “The Defence Ministry promises that by January the bill will be complete. Apart from the bill, we will also try to alter legislation concerning personal data, which means will be promoting executive measures for those who say they suffer from mental illness.”
By ‘executive measures’ the minister explained that soldiers’ discharge certificates would will clearly state they had left the army due to psychological reasons, making it difficult for them to obtain a driving licence or apply for work.
Asked what would happen to those who have already been exempted and received their leaving certificate, Symeonides said there was a provision for them in the bill too. He added that the Attorney-general had approved the bill as being constitutionally feasible.
The Defence Minister said that with the new bill, those who become exempt will have to serve in other state services, such as old people’s homes, hospitals and cleaners.
“We are of the opinion that if the National Guard is 25 months, the service will be more months,” he pointed out, adding that reserves would also be covered by the bill.
Chairwoman of the Finance Committee Antigoni Papadopoulou said there was an increase in “psychological illnesses” within the NG, which are having a negative impact on the other soldiers.
“Measures need to be taken in order to avert false statements concerning mental illnesses. We need an army of high morale and we believe this phenomenon should be eliminated,” said Papadopoulou.
