Filenews 17 February 2023 - by Andreas Pimpisis
The establishment of the first cabinet is one of the issues on which the elected President of the Republic runs. It has already begun to move in a presidential rhythm as it focuses on both efforts on the Cyprus issue and on internal governance issues such as labor and economic issues. The relevant announcement by Moody's is a vote of confidence for Nikos Christodoulides and the economic policy he intends to follow.
On the Cyprus issue, the date of a meeting between Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar was announced yesterday, confirming yesterday's publication of "F" that there was an agreement between the two to meet before March 1. The elected President and leader of the Turkish Cypriots will meet next Thursday, February 23rd. According to an announcement by the political office of Mr. Christodoulides, the meeting (which will be of a social nature) will take place at 11:00 at the residence of the Special Representative of the UNSG in Cyprus, Colin Stewart, in the UN-protected area of the old Nicosia airport.
The meeting is essentially taking place on the initiative of N. Christodoulides who had expressed his readiness to meet with Mr. Tatar as soon as possible either before or after taking office and had informed him that for this intention, he would officially inform the United Nations. In the occupied areas, Ersin Tatar had stated that he had no objection to a social meeting with N. Christodoulides. We should not shy away from meetings, said Ersin Tatar.
UNFICYP spokesman Alim Siddiq confirmed to "F" that the UNSG's special representative, Colin Stewart, will host the first informal meeting between Nikos Christodoulides and Ersin Tatar at his home inside the buffer zone on February 23 at 11 a.m.
>> Mitsotakis' strong message: A rather resounding message from the Prime Minister of Greece, addressed both in Cyprus and internationally. He expressed his confidence that the election of Nikos Christodoulides to the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus will give new life to the long-term efforts of the Republic of Cyprus and all its citizens to end the Turkish occupation in the context of a comprehensive and mutually acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem between the two communities.
In a congratulatory letter sent to the elected President, Mr. Mitsotakis also noted that the cornerstone, guarantee and source of effectiveness of Greece's policy on the Cyprus problem is the continuous consultation and full coordination with the Republic of Cyprus.
Moreover, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, Nikos Dendias, in his congratulatory letter to the elected President, expressed the certainty that his many years of experience as Minister of Foreign Affairs and as a diplomat will be a valuable asset for the further strengthening of the international position of the Republic of Cyprus in the European Union, the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, but also in the international arena in general. It will also contribute, as he says, "to the new efforts you will make to resolve the great international issue of invasion and occupation, which is the Cyprus problem".
>> Movements for the benefit of the citizens: The second axis of movements of N. Christodoulides has to do with issues of domestic policy. Moves that are in the interests of the citizens. According to our information, Nikos Christodoulides, immediately after being informed that by the end of the month the decisions regarding the reduction of consumption taxes on fuel and the subsidy of part of their electricity costs expire, made moves so that the cabinet during its last session will proceed to an extension of the decisions . According to the same information, N. Christodoulides spoke about the issue with both President Anastasiades and the Director General of the Ministry of Finance. As stated by the government spokesman, Marios Pelekanos, the cabinet in its last session will proceed to a decision that will extend for another two months the relevant reductions. It is noted that the reduced fuel consumption tax measure entered into force in March 2022 with an expiration date of February 28, 2023.
>> Sphinx for the cabinet: Despite the press he has been receiving since the day after his election, Nikos Christodoulides does not open his cards regarding his cabinet. In a statement Wednesday night, the elected President said that in his mind "several names have been locked" but "they will be made public when they should be". He added that he is continuing contacts with both the parties that supported him and those that did not, and indicated that these contacts "are essential and I fully respect their approaches".
"At the same time there is a significant number of our compatriots who are non-aligned, who for years have chosen not to participate in the electoral processes. And they will be part of the cabinet," he added. Mr. Christodoulides stressed that "the main issue for all those who will participate in the cabinet is to truly believe in our own pre-election program, which was the one that brought us to power".
