Nicosia: The National Council, the leading advisory body to the President on Cyprus affairs, convened at 10 a.m. on Monday under the leadership of President Nikos Christodoulides. This marks the first meeting of the National Council with its new composition following the parliamentary elections last May and introduces ALMA - Citizens for Cyprus and Direct Democracy parties into the discussions.
According to Cyprus News Agency, this meeting witnessed the participation of prominent political figures including President of DISY, Annita Demetriou, AKEL's General Secretary, Stefanos Stefanou, President of ELAM, Christos Christou, President of DIKO, Nicholas Papadopoulos, and new entrants Odysseas Michaelides of ALMA and Fidias Panayiotou of Direct Democracy. The meeting also included government officials such as Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos and Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis among other key personnel. Former President Nikos Anastasiades, however, informed the Council of his absence from the meeting.
The Council was briefed on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue following the visit of Mara ngela Holgun, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy. Holgun's visit to Cyprus was part of a broader diplomatic engagement, which included meetings with Foreign Ministers in Turkey and Greece, and is set to continue with further discussions in Brussels before her return to Cyprus.
Cyprus has faced division since 1974 due to Turkey's occupation of its northern third. Previous UN-led peace negotiations have consistently failed to resolve the conflict. The last significant attempt in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, in July 2017, concluded without agreement. As informal meetings resumed in 2025, plans are underway for a broader meeting coinciding with the end of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term, with Holgun actively engaging the involved parties.