National Council convenes over ‘loose’ Federation proposal for Cyprus

The National Council of Cyprus has convened today ahead of this Friday’s meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.

At the heart of the discussions following from the previous meeting, in early October, was Mr Anastasiades' suggestion for a decentralised system of government of the federal state should a solution be found for the divided island Cyprus.

In response to questions as to whether he will submit a more comprehensive proposal for a decentralised system of government, President Anastasiades affirmed that he will both contribute ideas and open to listen to ideas.

However, according to a presidential source, Anastasiades will not present a "new proposal" for the decentralised system of governance that he has raised for concern.

The same source reported that there are documents with central government authorities, documents on the Annan Plan, but also the proposal he himself submitted in 2010 to the National Council - under the government of Demetris Christofias - and was rejected by the majority of the parties.

Also, at the meeting of the National Council, a discussion will be held on the UN report on the Cyprus issue, a copy of which was delivered on 15 October to the members of the UN Security Council.