Through a network of bilateral, tripartite and multilateral cooperation based on respect for international law, Cyprus has recently become a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, said the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis, today.

In his speech at the certificates – insignia awarding ceremony of the soldiers who have graduated from the 81st Underwater Demolition School, that took place at the Naval Base Evangelos Florakis in Mari in the presence of the Chief of the National Guard General Staff (GEEF), Mr. Petridis said that “the period we are going through requires, apart from military training, scientific training and adaptation to the new developments. In this context, the participation of the Underwater Demolition Team in exercises with other countries such as the USA, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Germany and the United Kingdom is included.”

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He added that “through such exercises, our personnel and soldiers enrich their knowledge, gain experience and become familiar with various operational conditions.”

The Minister publicly thanked “the French Ministry of Defence for the presence of the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Eastern Mediterranean region,” which he visited yesterday, realizing its capabilities at sea.

Today, Mr. Petridis continued, a joint Search and Rescue exercise is being carried out under the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) with the participation of rescue helicopters of the French aircraft carrier, the Coastal Patrol Ship “GEORGE” of the Naval Command, helicopters (ΑW139 of the 460 Search & Rescue Squadron as well as specialized nurses of the Special Teams “MEDEVAC” of the Ambulance Service.

Tomorrow, he noted, “an aeronautical exercise will take place once again with RAFALE fighter jets, in the standards of Exercise TALOS 2021, with the participation of the National Guard”.

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All these exercises, said the Minister of Defence, “are part of the Defence Cooperation Programs that we implement and develop with other countries. Such partnerships promote security and stability in the region,” he said, adding that “in recent years, Cyprus has become a pillar of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, through a network of bilateral, tripartite and multilateral cooperation based on respect for international law.”

At the same time, he assured that “the efforts of the Ministry of Defence for the modernization and the upgrading of the National Guard continue unhindered.”

Referring to today’s ceremony, the Minister said that it is the culmination of the painstaking effort they made for a long time, while their hard training led them to discover their limits and endurance.

He added that for the young Underwater Demolition Team members, “there is only hard work and total dedication to the goal,” they embarked on the difficult and arduous path of underwater demolition training and were tested in conditions which many failed to complete, proving courage, a high sense of responsibility and discipline, realizing the seriousness of their mission for the benefit of the National Guard and the debt to the homeland.

The Minister also added that they proved that they deserve “the honored uniform with the emblems of the Underwater Demolition Team” they wear today, they should and must be role models, while with their months-long training they acquired all the necessary qualifications to be able to respond to any mission assigned to them, under any circumstances.

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