President calls National Council meeting

A National Council meeting will take place on Friday, where President Nikos Christodoulides is expected to brief party leaders on the latest developments over the Cyprus problem.

Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said the meeting will take place at 10:30am at the presidential palace.

“During the meeting, the president will brief the body about recent developments on the Cyprus problem.”

The president rejected a suggestion he had called the meeting following criticism he received about the ongoing spat between auditor-general Odysseas Michaelides and the Legal Service.

“I do not convene the National Council because I’m criticised. Criticism is a daily phenomenon, it is welcomed and reinforced, I want to make it clear, as we approach the elections,” he said.

“I convened the National Council because the European Council has finished and I want to inform the party leaders of what was discussed before the arrival in Cyprus of [UN envoy] Maria Angela Holguin.”

Christodoulides will brief the National Council about the outcomes of the recent European Council in relation to EU-Turkish relations.

Akel and Disy have repeatedly called for a National Council meeting in the past few weeks, particularly as Christodoulides has stated agreeing to UN proposals on the national issue.

Earlier this month, Letymbiotis said a National Council meeting would take place when the time is right.