The Summer Congress scheduled to take plass in Liege, Belgium, at the beginning of August, has been cancelled due to the Corona crisis. This a decision by the CIOR Presidency, after discussion by CIOR’s Permanent Representative with the organisers of the congress – and with the support of the Director of Belgian National Reserves.
BY: Roy Thorvaldsen, Lt Col (R) Norwegian Army/ CIOR Public Affairs.
The Presidency is looking at reprogramming a Congress in the period last week of September to third week of October 2020 at a different location yet to be determined. This is the contents of a letter addressed to the CIOR Council, consisting of member reserve associations’ delegations.
Volunteer nations for “Autumn Summer Congress” and/or MILCOMP?
This ‘Autumn Summer Congress’ will be run by the Presidency, as complete as possible, but likely without MILCOMP as it is not easy to find a venue for the competition in such a short timescale. However, if any nation would like to host either the Congress or the MILCOMP, the Presidency asks to be informed ASAP.
The CIOR President Colonel (R) Chris Argent, also would like to convey his well-wishes to everybody in the CIOR familiy in these times of crisis:
CIOR President Colonel (R) Chris Argent.
– I very much hope that you are staying well and taking the various precautionary measures on which we have all been advised by our respective Governments to protect ourselves, our families, communities and indeed the whole world from the awful scourge of Corona Virus 19. I know you would also want me to send our collective support and good wishes to all those who are working on the front line within their civilian or military capabilities, Argent said.
Adapting to the situation
– All our nations face this crisis, and we as your Presidency have been keeping a close watch on the unfolding events over the last weeks to see how we can reshape and continue the future events of our Confederation and take forward our work. It would be easy at this time to merely close down CIOR until times improve, but as your President I am most reluctant to do that as adapting, replanning and delivering to the best of our ability are all good lessons to learn as military officers, he continued.
The letter from the CIOR President to the Council in its entirety is available here