President wants top technocrats advising him on CyProb

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that the National Security Council that is to be set up will consist mainly of technocrats and will further strengthen the work of the National Council, the top advisory body to the President as regards the Cyprus issue.

Asked by journalists about the meeting of the National Council earlier in the day, the President said he was satisfied with the constructive discussion that took place. He said that he had the opportunity to develop in detail the approach of the effort to end the impasse and resume the Cyprus talks in order to achieve the greater goal which is the solution of the Cyprus problem.

He added that he listened carefully to the political parties' positions and approaches which he described as constructive, adding that he asked for their own contribution through the European Parliament groups in which they participate.

The second part of the discussion, he said, was about the decision to establish a National Security Council. He said that this Council will have many roles, among which is the further strengthening of the work of the National Council. He said that in the coming days he will send to the parties in writing the general framework for the operation and establishment of the National Security Council.

"The Republic of Cyprus is the only country in the region, but also at the European level in general, that does not have such a body. So, we will proceed with a decision of the Council of Ministers and then it will go through the Parliament for a relevant legislation concerning the establishment and operation of such a body, which will have multiple roles, one of which is to strengthen the work of the National Council," the President pointed out.

"Through this decision we aim to upgrade the role and importance of the National Council", he stressed.

Replying to a question, President Christodoulides said that the National Security Council will mainly be made up of technocrats, adding that "we need technocratic, scientific support in our efforts for the Cyprus issue as well as other issues related to internal and external security, foreign policy, defence and civil protection".

Asked about the Cyprus position regarding the election for the General Secretariat of the International Maritime Organization, the President said that they will be awaiting for the submission of candidacies, noting that there is a clear picture as to what Cyprus will do namely for one of the candidacies that have already been submitted and not the one by Turkey.

He clarified that if things were different, then Cyprus could support or receive support from Turkey but noted that it is Ankara that does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and not the opposite.

The President recalled that since 1987 ships flying the Cypriot flag have not been allowed to approach Turkish ports.

He said that Turkey is now taking advantage of the crisis in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, and does not to allow ships flying the Cypriot flag to pass.

"You realize that for us such a choice is out of the question" he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.