Minister congratulates navy’s new frogmen

Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides on Monday congratulated the graduates of the frogmen training school for conscripted navy men, at a ceremony at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base.

“Today is the culmination of your unwavering efforts over a long period of time,” Petrides told the graduates.

“You are now part of one of the most elite units of the National Guard and you can be proud of it,” he added.

By successfully coping with the most difficult military training, the frogmen demonstrated their willpower, courage, fighting spirit, determination and ability to accomplish the difficult goal they set themselves, Petrides said.

Cyprus needed to remain focused and alert in the face of Turkey’s provocations.

“We must not forget who we are up against. A country such as Turkey, which systematically seeks to divide the island into two separate states, which keeps violating international rules set by the UN in Varosha and which allows illegal migrants into the Republic, must be always monitored,” he warned.

Finally, Petrides praised the National Guard for the successful completion of the “Agapinor 2022” military exercise, carried out in cooperation with Israel, which sparked an angry reaction by Turkey, who accused the island’s government of being insincere and destabilising the region.

“The operation provided valuable experience for our National Guard in conducting difficult operations,” said Petrides.