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Tagsnational guard
One in ten soldiers use soft drugs
AROUND 10 per cent of recruits in the National Guard are soft-drug users according to Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou. Fotiou yesterday revealed the ministry’s new strategy to combat drug use in the army after it was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday.The ministry and the Anti-Drugs Council signed a memorandum of cooperation to help prevent substance abuse by army recruits serving in the National Guard.Fotiou outlined the ministry’s five-point-plan to combat the problem which includes the implementation of the memorandum... 7 comments
Unsafe mortar shells ‘scattered’ in storehouses
SOME 60,000 mortar shells scattered across multiple National Guard (NG) storehouses in Cyprus and bought decades ago may no longer be safe, the defence minister has said. Fotis Fotiou and representatives of the (unnamed) French manufacturers inspected some of the sites holding the munitions yesterday, which are due to be shipped to France for destruction. “I was obliged to expedite action because I was clearly told by the NG leadership that these (mortar shells) needed to be destroyed yesterday even, and are dangerous,” Fotiou said. ... 4 comments
Minister visits search and rescue centre
ISRAELI helicopters arrived in Cyprus yesterday morning in order to take part in a military exercise as part of a Cyprus-Israel co-operation agreement.Speaking after a visit to the Search and Rescue Centre in Larnaca, Defence Minister, Fotis Fotiou said that an agreement on the basis of search and rescue, between the two countries had recently been signed. “The agreement also includes instances of natural disasters, including fires, and that is why these helicopters are taking part in the exercise,” he said... 2 comments
‘New defence strategy needed’
IN THESE times of austerity, Cyprus needs a new defence doctrine, one that is called ‘smart defence’, Defence Minister Fotis Fotiou said yesterday. Speaking during a visit to the National Guard command headquarters, where he was briefed by the NG chief Lieutenant General Stylianos Nasi on Cyprus’ defensive strategy, Fotiou said: “I am now convinced that we should redesign our defence strategy based on the new developments in the region.”The minister referred specifically to the geostrategic developments in the region, and Turkish threats and challenges to Cyprus’ sovereign right to exploit its natural resources... 3 comments
