Panel of experts to help talks team

PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias plans to reinforce the Greek Cypriot side’s negotiation team by appointing a committee of experts to support his efforts in the Cyprus problem.

According to Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, the committee will include experts from Cyprus and abroad, and specialists on European laws and regulations.

“when you are discussing an issue as complex as the Cyprus problem, apart from the political knowledge and political dealings, you need the support of expert knowledge,” said Stefanou.

“Apart from the negotiating team that accompanies the President of the Republic during the talks, there is also the Cyprus Problem Team, which I would say prepares the President and his team during the negotiations.”

But, he added, Christofias is aware that it requires more specialised knowledge on specific issues, constitutional and others, which need expert knowledge. “We need to be much more specific and substantial during the talks. We also need expert knowledge from the EU on how to handle such issues,” said Stefanou.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.