Cyprus Mail (1st Oct 2002)reports that the Cyprus Government had blocked the Cyprus National Guard from displaying its new squadron of Mi-35E Hind attack helicopters in the military parade today, on the Independence Day parade celebrations for the 42nd national anniversary.
The parade is an annual occasion, where the National Guard is permitted to display some of its armaments, but rarely its more classified materials.
Cyprus began actively classifying and concealing much of its armamaent programs in 1999, when the S-300 fiasco shook the island and twice almost brought Greece and Turkey to war.
The occasion was visited by 2 PC-9’s, 2 Bell-412’s, 2 Bell-UH1’s, a Kamov Ka-32 Helix and a large Mi-26 Halo helicopter.
The Hellenic Air Force did not make its usual visit to the air show, which in recent years has sent F-16 and A-7H warplanes to make lightly armed overflights of the city of Nicosia.
The Cypriot Mi-35E Hinds made their first public appearance in June of this year at the funeral of the Commander of the National Guard, Evangelista Florakis, who was killed in a helicopter crash along with several other top commanders of the Cypriot armed forces.
Cyprus has refused to answer recent claims by the Turkish Government that the helicopters are offensive weapons, and that as many as 40 are planned for delivery.
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October 2, 2002 at 8:44 pm