There is an ongoing procedure to restructure the National Guard, Minister of Defence Photis Photiou has said, adding that changes are necessary after the findings of hydrocarbon reserves in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

Addressing an event Friday morning, Photiou said that ‘the National Guard is at a process of being restructured and modernized” and noted that this changes are necessary to help the National Guard adopt to new developments.

Those developments, he added in his speech, which was read out by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Christos Malikkides, include the findings of undersea natural wealth in Cyprus’ EEZ, and the need to protect Cyprus’ sovereign rights. He stressed that Ankara continues to make provocative actions and statements as regards Cyprus’ EEZ, noting that due to the Turkish policy “we have to remain vigilant”.

Referring to the economic situation in Cyprus, he assured that the National Guard, despite economic problems, will not allow Cyprus “relinquish its principles, sovereignty and national dignity”.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkish troops invaded and occupied the island’s northern third.

Cyprus is currently developing natural resources discovered within the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone, while several international companies are involved in hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activities.

Preliminary results of a Noble Energy appraisal well for natural gas in Block 12 of Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone estimate the hydrocarbon reserves between 3.6tcf and 6tcf with a gross mean resource of 5tcf.

After Cyprus decided to explore hydrocarbon reserves within its EEZ, Turkey has escalated its provocations by sending war vessels and research vessels in Cyprus` territorial waters