The
Ministry of Defence announces that it is organizing the Multinational Exercise
“Argonaut 2014”, in cooperation with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs,
Interior, Justice and Public Order.
The
exercise, which started today on the 19th of May 2014, will last until
the 23rd of May 2014and will be heldin four phases, within
themaritime and land areas of Larnaca district andwithin the FIR and Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of the Cyprus.
The
exercise was plannedby the core services of the Republic (National Guard,Civil
Defenceand Cyprus Police), in cooperation with other governmental
departments from the remaining Ministries, and it will be conducted with the
participation of aeronautical forces from friendly countries.
In
the framework of the exercise, the existing National Plans of “NEARCHOS” and
“ESTIA” will be tested, which concern the reception of civilians from war zones inneighboring areas, whilst the response
to Search and Rescue incidents,within the area of responsibility of the Republic of Cyprus, which coincides with the
Nicosia FIRwill be examined.
The
scenario will also cover all the asymmetric threats in the
contemporary operational environment(terrorism, ship piracy, crisis management,
etc.), which require a harmonious and effective civil-military cooperation
(CIMIC).
The
first two phases of the exercise will be held on Tuesday, the 20th
of May 2014. During the first phase a map exercise will be conducted, as well
asshort briefings and a number of visits for observers. The second phase will take
place tomorrow in Larnaca Port and will be observed by foreign diplomats and
observers, whilst it will include the implementation in practice of the Plan
'ESTIA'.
The
third phase of the exercise, which involves the response to Search and Rescueincidents,
and which is based on the “NEARCHOS"National Plan,will be held on
Wednesday the 21st of May 2014, under the coordination of the Joint
Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC)of Larnaca. During this phase two scenarios(one
during the day and one at night) will take place in the maritime area south of
Cyprus. These scenarios are the continuation of Phases 1 and 2, regarding the
evaluation of the Plan “ESTIA” and the evacuation of civilians from crisis areas
in the Middle East.
The
final phase of the exercise will take place on the 23rd of May 2014,
at the Naval Base "Evangelos Florakis" of Mari,in the presence of the
political and military leadership and of foreign diplomats and observers.
