President Nicos Anastasiades yesterday briefed the National Council on his latest contacts regarding developments on the Cyprus problem and tabled a document containing proposals on the future role of the Council, said government spokesman Christos Stylianides.

The spokesman said the document includes proposals on the decision-making processes of the National Council (the top advisory body to the president on the Cyprus problem), the establishment of working groups, issues related to legal advisors as well as a specific proposal on the founding of a Council for Geostrategic Research.

Anastasiades also briefed political leaders on the recent meeting he had with US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Eric Rubin and French President Francois Hollande.

According to Stylianides, the president will meet with political leaders again on July 2 to further discuss the proposals and exchange views. On July 16 and 17, the National Council will hold all-day meetings to take final decisions on the proposals, as well as on the issue of the negotiating team and chief negotiator for the Greek Cypriot community in the peace talks, expected to start this October.

The spokesman stressed that this was a very crucial issue that needed consensus.

Source: Cyprus Mail