National Council to convene next month

A National Council meeting has been slated for September 13, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Monday.

The aim is to brief political party leaders of developments on the Cyprus problem.

Speaking to the state broadcaster, he said the status quo is no longer viable and the government is carrying out efforts to break the deadlock.

As such, Nicosia has given the green light to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s to participate in the upcoming informal EU Council foreign ministers meeting on August 29.

According to Letymbiotis, the government’s approach was a strategic move and an act of good will as part of the government’s commitment to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem, he told the state broadcaster.

He described it as proof of Cyprus’ constructive stance and it was now on Turkey to do the same.

The spokesman added that this falls within the framework of the conclusions of the Euro-Turkish negotiations, which aim to foster a cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship between Brussels and Ankara, linked to progress on the Cyprus problem.