Nikiforos cancelled at last minute

RESERVISTS called up for this year’s Nikiforos exercise, called off after a government decision, still need to report to their designated stations, the Defence Ministry has said.

The military exercise had been set to start today and end Saturday.

Its cancellation, literally on the eleventh hour, must come as music to the ears of the some 50,000 reserves, most of whom have to leave their jobs and the comforts of home to camp out in tents.

Cyprus cancelled Nikiforos in 2001 as part of broader efforts to reduce tensions in the region. But in 2005, after much debate, the Defence Ministry decided to run the drill, which involves National Guard conscripts and thousands of reserves.

According to a press release issued by the relevant ministry, all reservists summoned for duty must report as scheduled so that they can get their discharge papers.

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