In a military ceremony on Friday, the Republic of Cyprus welcomed new members into its special forces. The event took place at the 'Stelios Mavrommatis' training base in Stavrovouni. The country's President and military leader, Nikos Christodoulides, attended with other officials and families.
The new soldiers received their green berets after a difficult training course. Before the ceremony, they gave a demonstration of their military skills. President Christodoulides spoke to the crowd and said he was very proud of the new soldiers. He explained that Cyprus's location is very important. As the EU country closest to areas of conflict, it needs highly-skilled soldiers. These units can help with emergencies and humanitarian missions in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Speaking to the soldiers' families, the president said the green beret is a powerful symbol. It represents a strong character, a deep sense of duty, and mental strength. He thanked the families for their important role. He said that the values they taught their children help the soldiers do their difficult jobs.
The event also included a photo exhibition called "The Historical Legacy of Cypriot Special Forces." The president visited the display, which shows over 60 years of this elite group's history. It remembers soldiers who died and honors all who have served. The president said he hopes more students will visit the exhibition to learn about this part of the military. He also said he wants more women to join the National Guard.
This ceremony happens while Cyprus continues to work for peace on the divided island. The country spends a large part of its budget on defense. Events like this show that the nation is strong and ready to protect itself.