Government to proceed with National Security Council implementation

Cyprus’ Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided on the establishment of a National Security Council (NSC), Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced, noting that its mandate will be to produce thoughts, ideas, suggestions and proposals with practical value on matters of national security.

In his statements, after a meeting of the Council of Ministers which was presided over by the President of the Republic, Letymbiotis said that the establishment and operation of a National Security Council was decided, noting that it is an advisory body, which was also in the election campaign program of the President of the Republic.

According to Letymbiotis, this body will advise the President of the Republic and through him, the Council of Ministers on national security issues, including on defense, foreign policy and the Cyprus issue, and will analyze and plan the national security strategy which will be subject to approval by the Council of Ministers.

The National Security Council will also inform the National Council, through the President of the Republic, on matters concerning the Cyprus issue while the National Council will be able to ask the President of the Republic to assign to the NSC to carry out a specific investigation or study that falls under its competencies, he also said.

According to Letymbiotis, the mandate of the NSC will be to produce thoughts, ideas, suggestions and proposals of practical value on matters of national security.