Newsroom
The President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades is expected to address the public on Tuesday to speak about his proposal for a decentralized federation as a form of settlement.
According to government sources the President will lay out his proposal for a devolved federation whereby increasing the powers and authority granted to the constituent states will lead to more autonomy for issues that have to do with daily life. The President is expected to argue that in this way frictions between the two sides will be avoided.
Anastasiades position is that governance is as important of an issue as security and guarantees. Negotiations broke down more than a year ago and efforts to resuscitate the process have failed. The President introduced these 'new ideas' in order to convince all those involved that things are different this time around, however the public is not convinced. Anastasiades has said that he is ready to restart the peace talks but the UN are skeptical about the sincerity of stakeholders to walk the talk and commit to a settlement within a reasonable amount of time.
The press conference will take place in the Cabinet room at 19:30 local time.
On November 12, the National Council is set to meet anew.
Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou had said that the President is expected to inform the members regarding his meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci and UN envoy Jane Holl Lute.
It remains to be seen whether the political will exists to tackle the issue head on and that the latest 'new ideas' for a settlement are not just aimed at rallying domestic support.
