THERE ARE no immediate plans to create a special Presidential Guard unit, but the ultimate decision rests with President Demetris Christofias, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas has said in a written answer to the House of Representatives.
Responding to a question from DISY MP Tassos Mitsopoulos as to whether the government intended to set up such a unit, Papacostas said that this would require at least 100 personnel, and “under current conditions and with the problems of reduced manning levels in the National Guard”, staffing a military unit capable of performing the usual duties of an elite ceremonial unit “is rendered unfeasible and unrealisable”.
Papacostas said in his letter that the duties undertaken by Presidential Guard units in other countries include providing an honour guard at the presidential palace, participating in official events attended by the President such as receiving ambassadors’ credentials, providing an honour guard for official visits to the government or the armed forces, and participating in national holiday events or official religious commemorations.
The Defence Minister said that such duties are currently carried out on a rota basis by various units of the National Guard, “always in keeping with their other operational obligations”.
He added that providing security for the President in Cyprus and most other countries is the responsibility of the police or special units specifically set up for the purpose.
When it comes to Presidential Guard units, the reference-point for most Greek Cypriot politicians is the Evzones, who guard the Greek Parliament, Presidential Mansion and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens. The Evzones are famous around the world for their unique traditional uniform, which includes the fustanella, a garment similar to the kilt.
In fact, Greece has a choice of five Presidential Guard uniforms: Cretan (ceremonial), Macedonian (winter service), the traditional mainland uniform (dress), a modernised version of the Balkan Wars-era uniform (summer service) and Pontian (ceremonial).
But what would they wear?
AS TO what kind of uniform a Cypriot Presidential Guard would wear, the Cretan uniform used in Greece includes a garment which most closely resembles the Cypriot vraka, a version of the baggy trousers which used to be common throughout the Ottoman Empire.
Given that one of the functions of an honour guard is to impress visiting dignitaries and perhaps send a more subtle message about the national image, alternative designs might be considered.
Italy’s Corazzieri (cuirassiers) sport a cavalry uniform – complete with breastplate and plumed helmet – which was originally designed in 1876, and which is very similar to that of the French honour guard at the Elysée Palace.
Russia had all its army uniforms redesigned in 2008 by haute-couture dress designer Valentin Yudashkin. The design for the presidential honour guard was the first to be completed, comprising a red and blue suit with brass buttons which evokes an imperial rather than a Soviet past.
In 1990, President Vaclav Havel of (then) Czechoslovakia chose to symbolise the transition to democracy by ordering a re-design of the Prague Castle Guard uniform by Oscar-winning film designer Theodor Pistek.
As there are no immediate plans for a ceremonial guard unit, Christofias could follow Havel’s example and leave the decision to the first President of a reunified Cyprus.
