President Christofias to confer with Cyprus political parties

President of the Republic Demetris Christofias initiates today a series of separate meetings with parliamentary parties, which make up the National Council.

President Christofias had pledged to consult with the political parties before taking any final decisions in view of his fourth meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, on Friday, which takes place as part of efforts to resume direct negotiations, leading to a settlement that will reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

According to an official announcement, President Christofias will meet today at 4:30 in the afternoon the Secretariat of AKEL Central Committee.

Tomorrow, President Christofias will meet at 6:00 in the afternoon the Democratic Party (DIKO) Secretariat and immediately afterwards at 7:00 the Democratic Rally (DISY) Executive Bureau.

At 12:00 on Thursday 24 July, he will meet the Secretariat of the Movement of Social Democrat EDEK, and at 4:30 in the afternoon the European Party’s Political Bureau.

President Christofias concludes his consultation with the political parties with a meeting on Thursday at 6:00 in the afternoon with a delegation from the Political Committee of the Cyprus Green Party.

All the meetings will take place at the Presidential Palace.

The National Council comprises parliamentary parties and acts as an advisory body but the President is not bound by its decisions.

The President and the Turkish Cypriot leader agreed on July 1 to meet again on July 25 to review the work carried out by bicomunal teams of experts and decide on future steps. This will be their fourth meeting after Christofias' election to the presidency of the Republic in February 2008.

Six working groups and seven technical committees, set up in the context of an agreement achieved on 21st March between President Christofias and the Talat, are meeting to prepare the ground for substantive negotiations between the two leaders.