In the presence of friends, relatives, and other attendees, but also with feelings of joy and pride, the oath ceremony of the new conscripts of Class 2022 took place on Friday morning (29/07). 

In his greeting during the oath ceremony of Class 2022, which took place in the morning at the Larnaca Training Centre, the Minister of Defence, Charalambos Petridis, addressed the young conscripts telling them that they gave an “oath of loyalty to the homeland” assuming the sacred obligation to defend it.

Πραγματοποιήθηκαν σήμερα οι τελετές ορκωμοσίας της 2022 ΕΣΣΟ.
Νέοι Εθνοφρουροί, σας καλωσορίζω στη μεγάλη οικογένεια της ΕΦ. Εύχομαι σε όλους καλή #θητεία!@DefenceCyprus@NationalGuardCY pic.twitter.com/TLNV8biCsP

— Charalambos Petrides (@PetridesCh) July 29, 2022

“It is a national duty and obligation of all to fight together for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the principles and values ​​of the EU,” Defence Minister, Charalambos Petridis, said on Friday, adding that with its revisionism and provocative actions, occupying Turkey demonstrates its uncompromising stance as to its ultimate goal of dividing Cyprus.

He added that “with its revisionism, its provocative unilateral actions in the enclosed city of Famagusta, the continuous violations of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the instrumentalization of human suffering by the continuous promotion of a large number of illegal immigrants, occupying Turkey demonstrates the uncompromising stance as to its ultimate goal of dividing our island. 

It is a national duty and obligation of all to fight in solidarity for the solution of the Cyprus issue based on the resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations and the principles and values ​​of the EU,” he said.

In the Minister’s words, “our belief in justification must be in the context of realism and we must always be fully aware of the risks. The fact that the country’s defence spending has been at the highest level in the last 20 years clearly demonstrates the will to modernize the National Guard in order to increase its operational capabilities but also strengthen its deterrence capabilities.”

He also noted that “a decisive force multiplier of each army is its personnel”, that is, the young conscripts, whom he called on to demonstrate “maturity and interest in training and in all military activities. Military service must be perceived by everyone as a selfless offer to the country and our compatriots.”

Also read: Supreme Joint War College graduation ceremony – 25 Cypriot graduate officers

He also called on them to face their service in a positive spirit, to use their time constructively, acquire knowledge and experiences for their future life lying ahead of them.

As a state, said Mr. Petridis, “we entrust you with armaments and means to carry out your mission. Follow the instructions and directions of your superiors faithfully,” he said and noted that “discipline is a cornerstone for safety and success”.

Addressing the parents, the Minister of Defence invited them to be proud of their children “who made the sacred promise to defend the freedom of Cyprus” since, as he said, they deserve it because they got here with their own efforts and hard work.

At the same time, he congratulated the National Guard personnel, the commands of the Units and Formations, on the smooth and painstaking effort they put into the easy integration of the new conscripts into the military family” and wished the new recruits a good and productive service.

The ceremony was attended by, among others, the Speaker of Parliament, Annita Dimitriou, the Chief of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Democritus Zervakis, members of parliament, the Police Chief of Larnaca and a large number of people.

The oath ceremony began with the raising of the war flag, followed by a prayer, the address of the Chief of the National Guard and, after the Defence Minister’s greeting, it ended with the National Anthem.

Also read: Hellenic Military Academy | Oath Ceremony of Class 2022 Second Lieutenants