The Defence Ministry sought to strengthen cooperation on civil emergency planning with retired military officers on Tuesday.
Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Cyprus Retired Army Officers Association on strengthening cooperation in civil emergency planning.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Nicosia, Palmas said the memorandum strengthens civil emergency planning and the country’s sense of security, in an environment of increased and multi-level challenges.
Global instability
He referred to the “intense instability” globally, and to “an ever-changing security environment”, in which traditional threats coexist with asymmetric and hybrid challenges. Regional conflicts, revisionist policies, energy uncertainty and the rapid development of technology directly affect international peace and stability, he said.
Under these circumstances, security and defence are central axes of the strategic planning of every modern state, while for the Republic of Cyprus, as a semi-occupied country for more than five decades, the need to strengthen the state’s deterrence and resilience was even more imperative, he said.
“Preserving the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus remains a top priority,” he said.
Palmas referred to the Ministry’s support for the integration of retired officers into the civil mobilisation mechanism, noting that their knowledge and experience constitute an invaluable asset for the upgrading of civil emergency planning.
Sense of responsibility
For his part, head of the Cyprus Retired Army Officers Association, Major General (retd) Alexandros Charalambous described the memorandum as the culmination of a consistent effort to upgrade and make official the role of retired officers in society and national defence.
He noted that more than 30 members of the Association voluntarily responded to the call, without any financial reward, which, he said, highlights the sense of responsibility and love for their homeland. He stressed that the retired officers “do not retire”, stressing their readiness to contribute, with their accumulated experiences and knowledge, to the independence, sovereignty and freedom of the state.
Source: CNA