The flag guard of the Republic of Cyprus and the armed infantry unit of the Commando Command march in the Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Élysées in front of thousands of peoplewho flooded the streets of Paris, sending shivers of excitement through the crowd.

“We responded positively to a request made by the French government. In 2007, it was only the flag-bearing guard; now we’ve also sent a platoon from the commando forces.” ^{Christos Pieris, Press Officer for the Ministry of Defense}

GEEF

Participating in the French Republic’s celebrations for the second time, following 2007, demonstrates the historic friendship between the two peoples and the exceptionally high level of strategic cooperation currently existing between Cyprus and France.

The 23 elite members of the National Guard’s Commando Platoon lead the Greek contingent of the Joint Service Honor Guard of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff and salute the dignitaries on the podium in Place de la Concorde, while two Greek Rafale fighter jets streak across the sky of the City of Light.

Among the dozens of heads of state from around the world who attended the celebrations were the President of the Republic and the Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces, at the invitation of Emmanuel Macron.

“Our contingent arrived in France on time and participated in the rehearsals with the other contingents; tomorrow it will return to Cyprus,” said ^{Christos Pieris, Press Officer for the Ministry of Defense.}

The presence of the two units at this year’s Bastille Day parade confirms the high level of military cooperation between Nicosia, Athens, and Paris on issues of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and sends a message of shared understanding regarding European security and military autonomy.

Pride from the President

Immediately after his arrival in the City of Light yesterday, the President of the Republic visited the military base hosting the Cypriot honor guard, expressing pride in the armed forces.

“Beyond its profound symbolism, the National Guard’s honor guard parade, with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus on the Champs-Élysées before heads of state, reflects the importance of strategic cooperation between Cyprusand France and demonstrates the exceptionally high level of our bilateral relations.” ^{Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic}

In a one-on-one meeting with the Chief of the French Armed Forces, the Chief of the Hellenic Armed Forces discussed the prospect of strengthening the European Union’s defense capabilities, as well as the security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

Watch the report by Christoforos Nestoros