The repeated and intense pressures from the opposition (both from the Democratic Rally and AKEL) finally paid off as President Christodoulides decided yesterday to announce the convening of the National Council for tomorrow, Friday.
President Christodoulides dismissed claims that the decision to reconvene the National Council arose from opposition pressure.
Instead, he believes that now is the appropriate time, following the extraordinary European Council and ahead of the third visit by the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy to Cyprus.
The two opposition parties – DISY and AKEL – have been calling for the convening of the National Council since March, when Maria Angela Holguín Cuéllar was again in Cyprus.
Pressure from the parties intensified towards the end of March following the President’s own revelation that during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, a procedural suggestion was made.
President Christodoulides had stated that he responded positively and was awaiting the meeting between Tatar and Guterres.
Despite the pressures to reveal Guterres’ proposal, President Christodoulides deliberately avoided it, and neither did his associates disclose anything.
On the part of political leadership, the question arises whether the President will inform the party leaders tomorrow about what Guterres’ proposal actually was.
President Christodoulides wanted to conclude the extraordinary European Council in April before calling the political leaders to the Presidential Palace.
He wanted to have the specific decision in his hands to explain how the Euro-Turkish relations would contribute to the resumption of talks in Cyprus. It should be noted that last Sunday, AKEL’s General Secretary, Stefanos Stefanou, expressed strong doubts about Christodoulides’ actions in Cyprus.
In statements to journalists, attending the Annual General Meeting of OEB in Nicosia, and asked if he had convened the National Council for the coming Friday following the criticisms he received on this issue, the President said, “I am not convening the National Council due to criticism; criticism is a daily phenomenon, welcomed by all, and will increase, I announce it, as we approach the elections. I have convened the National Council because the European Council has concluded and before Ms. Holguin’s descent to Cyprus, to inform the party leaders and hear specific opinions, specific suggestions.”
Asked if “Amalthea” would resume, President Christodoulides said, “We await the completion of the work by the US, so that the humanitarian aid mission to Gaza can resume, which from recent developments is something that must happen immediately.”
When asked when, the President of the Republic said, “We wait; we are not the ones constructing this port; it’s the US, it’s at an advanced stage, as soon as we are informed that the work is completed, we will proceed in cooperation with our partners, the EU, the US of course, the UAE, in the humanitarian aid mission.”
