PRESIDENT Tassos Papadopoulos yesterday sent out a strong message to soldiers currently undertaking their military service that he would do everything in his power to eliminate nepotism from the National Guard.
In a visit to sentry posts along the Green Line in Nicosia, Papadopoulos not only claimed that attempts by soldiers to use the influence of political figures to gain favourable treatment in the armed forces would be in vain, but suggested this could in fact have the adverse effect.
“Do not turn to people outside the military establishment with the hope that they can help you. Nobody has the right or the power to bend the rules on transfers. I hope that from now on, not only people outside the military establishment will be unable to assist soldiers in gaining favourable transfers, but also anybody attempting to use political influence for their transfers will be subject to an unfavourable transfer,” he told soldiers at the army base next to the Kolokassides roundabout.
The president went on to outline the procedures that conscripts should follow if they have specific problems that would mean they should be subject to special treatment. “If you have any problems, whether they are family or personal problems that demand some sort of special treatment, the only people who can help are your army officers. Talk to your officers and report your problems and they will listen to you with understanding, justice and in a non-biased way,” he claimed.
Papadopoulos’ remarks come in response to a series of recent articles by Politis newspaper that claimed nepotism was rife in the military establishment. The paper had published lists that showed politicians using their power to influence transfers in the National Guard.
On a separate issue relating to the army service , Papadopoulos said the authorities were doing their utmost not to allow conscripts to leave the army without finishing their service. “I understand how much bitterness you must feel when you see some of your contemporaries who are evading their obligations towards their country. The government and the authorities are aware of this; we have been trying and will try harder in the future in order to eliminate the phenomenon of exemptions from the service for medical or other reasons,” he said.
However, he did urge caution, realising that in some cases there were genuine problems. “Have in mind, however, that there are indeed some cases where there are difficulties, where there are real personal problems,” he said.
“These problems can neither be published nor do we have the right to publish the reasons behind someone gaining exemption from the military service, it is purely a human rights issue. However, nobody without a valid reason that can be proved in an objective way will be gaining exemption from fulfilling his military obligations,” he said.
