Conscription in Cyprus
Encyclopedia
Military service in the National Guard of the Republic of Cyprus
is mandatory for males born of a Cypriot
parent, members of the Greek Cypriot community. Its duration is 24 months. Until 2007, conscription was optional for members of the three religious groups, i.e. Armenians
, Roman Catholics (the Latins
), and Maronites
. Members of the Turkish Cypriot community are not conscripted into the National Guard. The obligatory service is usually 24 months, however it can be reduced accordingly, up to 3 months. Foreign nationals who acquire Cypriot citizenship are also conscripted, for a period of 14 months .
All male residents of the island, or visitors who have a parent of Cypriot extraction, who are of military age (16 and over) are required to obtain an exit visa from a Defence Ministry office.
The chairman of the party Nicos Anastassiades during his press conference presented the proposals of Democratic Rally on Defence, saying that by that way the Cyprus National Guard will be transformed into a modern semi-professional army.
Referring to the economic aspect of his proposal, he has said that for only 4 to 5 years the state would incur additional costs but then the cost will be reduced.
Cypriot National Guard
The Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus...
is mandatory for males born of a Cypriot
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
parent, members of the Greek Cypriot community. Its duration is 24 months. Until 2007, conscription was optional for members of the three religious groups, i.e. Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
, Roman Catholics (the Latins
Latins
"Latins" refers to different groups of people and the meaning of the word changes for where and when it is used.The original Latins were an Italian tribe inhabiting central and south-central Italy. Through conquest by their most populous city-state, Rome, the original Latins culturally "Romanized"...
), and Maronites
Maronites
Maronites , is an ethnoreligious group in the Middle East that have been historically tied with Lebanon. They derive their name from the Syriac saint Mar Maron whose followers moved to Mount Lebanon from northern Syria establishing the Maronite Church....
. Members of the Turkish Cypriot community are not conscripted into the National Guard. The obligatory service is usually 24 months, however it can be reduced accordingly, up to 3 months. Foreign nationals who acquire Cypriot citizenship are also conscripted, for a period of 14 months .
All male residents of the island, or visitors who have a parent of Cypriot extraction, who are of military age (16 and over) are required to obtain an exit visa from a Defence Ministry office.
Proposals for reducing the consciption
A motion for reduction of military service from 25 to 14 months, while recruiting the necessary number of professional soldiers backed the Democratic Rally.The chairman of the party Nicos Anastassiades during his press conference presented the proposals of Democratic Rally on Defence, saying that by that way the Cyprus National Guard will be transformed into a modern semi-professional army.
Referring to the economic aspect of his proposal, he has said that for only 4 to 5 years the state would incur additional costs but then the cost will be reduced.