Defence Minister kicks off consultations on National Guard reform

THE DEFENCE Minister yesterday opened a round of contacts with political and state officials to discuss National Guard reform.

Minister Costas Papacostas started by meeting House President Marios Garoyian yesterday. He said afterwards that the NG was of vast significance, as was a further reduction of obligatory military service from 24 to 19 months, as promised by AKEL.

Today, Papacostas is set to brief the House Defence Committee on his efforts so far, before meeting with all the political parties.

The minister repeated his aim to create a more functional, adequately-trained and flexible military service, adding that experts have said it is possible further to reduce military service.

According to Papacostas, the bill for a reduction in service is ready to be submitted to the Cabinet and a date for its discussion is expected to be announced soon. If approved, it will come into force from January 2010. As the minister explained, conscripts who enrol from this date onwards will serve 19 months.

Regarding the general NG reform, Papacostas said it would take at least a decade before it is complete, “as such a procedure is not simple”.

  

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