Chief of the National Guard General Staff, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, has said that a fundamental reorganisation has been planned to address modern challenges, while 2025 has been designated as “Year of Women in the National Guard”.

He was speaking at the annual meeting of the General Staff of the National Guard that was held recently, during which the Commands and Directorates presented the work carried out in 2024, the year in which the National Guard completed 60 years since its establishment. The goals for 2025 were also presented.

According to a press release by the National Guard, the year 2025 has been designated as the “Year of Women in the National Guard”, highlighting the valuable role played by women in the National Guard, equally with their male colleagues.

The Chief of the National Guard talked about the work that has been implemented and continues to be implemented by the personnel in all sectors aiming at the fulfillment of the National Guard’s main mission and its contribution to the security and stability of the Republic of Cyprus and the wider region of the Southeastern Mediterranean.

“I unreservedly recognise and have said so many times that the magnitude of the work produced by such a small number of personnel is admirable”, he stressed.

He also talked about the priorities noting that a fundamental reorganisation has been planned to address modern challenges, as well as any conventional, asymmetric or hybrid threats, making the most of the capabilities of the personnel and the material resources provided by the state.

In order to more effectively address the above challenges, he added, cooperation with the Armed Forces of friendly countries will continue with undiminished intensity, through which- in addition to the exchange of knowledge and experiences- interoperability is upgraded, which is a critical factor for the successful completion of joint actions for the consolidation of security and stability.

He also referred to the improvement  of the existing facilities with the aim of upgrading capabilities, increasing security and improving living and working conditions with particular emphasis on ammunition depots.

The upgrading of infrastructure includes the agreements concerning the Paphos Air Base and the Mari Naval Base, which are carried out primarily for the benefit of the National Guard, he concluded.