page_title: Reduction of military conscription in Cyprus
section_title: Democratic Rally's support for ending or reduction of military consription
hierarchical_section_title: Reduction of military conscription in Cyprus / Democratic Rally's support for ending or reduction of military consription
caption_attribution_description: EPP Congress Bonn
context_page_description: The proposal for reduction of military conscription in Cyprus has been an old suggestion made by different Cypriot politicians, an idea which still exists today. Conscription in Cyprus was in force long before the Turkish invasion and subsequent occupation. Turkey occupies 38% of the Island and British "Sovereign" bases occupy 3%. Conscription in Cyprus has been introduced in 1974 to defend the island from future military threat from Turkey which occupied and still controls approximately one third of Cyprus. However, supporters of reduction of military conscription propose a professional army personnel, trained specially for the preservation of peace and stability of the island. The main political parties which support this proposal are Democratic Rally and Progressive Party of Working People together with a number of pressure and activist groups.
context_section_description: Democratic rally has been a constant supporter of confining military conspription to the minimum number of months. A motion for reduction of military service from 24 to 14 months, while recruiting the necessary number of professional soldiers backed the Democratic Rally in 2011.
  The chairman of the party Nicos Anastasiades 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. The party also suggests that by spending the minimum percent of the Gross Domestic Product on Defence and on preserving the needs of military consripted soldiers, it could spend much more on Education and Agriculture
caption: Nicos Anastasiades, political leader of Democratic Rally has been an all-time supporter of changing duration of military conscription
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