Minister of Defense Costas Papacostas of Cyprus
MILITARY service will not be reduced before 2009, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said yesterday.
Papacostas said he had ordered the NG Chief to carry out an investigation into the matter, while he also appointed a committee and two sub-committees of experts to help.
A GRADUAL reduction in military service could begin as early as next year, Defence Minster Costas Papacostas said yesterday, but he was unable to say by how many months it might be cut.
Speaking after a Church service to mark the April 1 anniversary of the EOKA uprising against British colonial rule, Papacostas said a study into possible reduction in army service had begun a week ago.
Papacostas said the government would take into account the DISY study as well as its own, and that in three months the National Guard would have a better idea of the feasibility of reducing conscription time.
Asked about Papadopoulos study, Papacostas said he disagreed it was not feasible to cut conscription time.
The project for the restructuring of the National Guard and the modernisation of the Republic’s armed forces, including a reduction of the military service from 25 to 19 months, is now being studied by the Ministry,” Cypriot Minister of Defence Costas Papacostas has said.
Analyzing one of the possible scenarios, Papacostas said that conscripts, once released from the military, can return to serve with the National Guard on a voluntary and semi-professional basis.
Papacostas said that if the military service is reduced to 19 months, the status of the “Soldier of Short-term Service” could be introduced.
the status of the Volunteer Soldier has to be introduced.
said proved the existence of the group.
112-mile (180-kilometer) cease-fire line that splits the island, existed only in theory and lacked substance, Costas Papacostas said in a television interview.
It was just fireworks,» Papacostas said on state-run CyBC television of the pact that Greek and Cypriot officials had said as recently as last year remained in effect.
Papacostas said Greece could still help Cyprus in case of armed conflict, but did not elaborate.
Mr Costas Papacostas was born on 12 November 1939 in Ayia Triada of Yialousa village, in the Famagusta District.
Speaking after a Church service to mark the April 1 anniversary of the uprising against British colonial rule, Papacostas said a study into possible reduction in army service had begun a week ago, reported Cyprus Mail on April 2.
Commenting on the incident, Defence Minister Costas Papacostas said it was an isolated finding.