Cyprus National Guard law amended

Cyprus House plenary approved a legislation which legitimizes those who declare themselves to be conscientious objectors and provides for the obligation of an alternative service of 30 months for those who are not considered eligible to serve the army due to health problems.
The bill was voted by the 28 deputies who were present while 11 Democratic Rally deputies who were present abstained.
According to the law those who declare themselves to be conscientious objectors will either undertake a special military service or an alternative service. The former will last for 30 months and the latter for 34 months.
Defence Minister Christodoulos Pashiardis said he was fully satisfied with the approval of the law, adding that with the new law, that will come into effect immediately, some long-standing pending issues are effectively addressed as well as the phenomenon of those who pursue to be exempted from military service, pleading non-existing health reasons.
President of the House Defence Committee Yiannakis Omirou expressed optimism that the institutional framework established with the adoption of the law will prevent such phenomena.

Opposition DISY MP Socratis Hasikos argued that Cyprus risked losing thousands of potential national guardsmen as more people would most likely opt for special service.

The Law is effective from the next call up of January 2008.