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GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOW OFF
ATTACK HELICOPTERS (15.07.02)
The Greek Cypriot
administration, at the funeral of the Greek Cypriot National Guard Commander,
Evangelos Florakis, and three other officers, for the first time showed off
its three M1-35 Russian type attack helicopters, when the helicopters flew
over the funeral ceremony.
The Greek Cypriot daily
"Fileleftheros", evaluating the attack helicopters as Florakis’
"secret honour", said these helicopters had been hidden at the
Paphos Air Base for months, but that this time it flew without being
concealed.
It was reported that the
public exposure of these helicopters has became an issue for debate and
because of the ongoing direct talks process various Greek Cypriot military and
political circles have evaluated its exposure has being untimely.
According to another Greek
Cypriot daily, "Alithia", the attack helicopters were secretly
brought to the island at night through the Vasiliko Port and on Russian
carrier planes, together with its technicians and pilots for the training of
their Greek Cypriot counterparts.
It
was also reported that "for Atilla not to recognise what type of
helicopters they were, up until today they have only flown at night with
limited speed and altitude."
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