FM permanent secretary withdraws from Cyprus talks

FOREIGN Ministry Permanent Secretary Nicos Emiliou, who is under investigation for his alleged involvement in fabricating an internal memo regarding last month’s naval base explosion, yesterday confirmed he had withdrawn from the Cyprus problem negotiation talks.

Emiliou announced he had informed President Demetris Christofias in writing of his decision to step down from his place at the ongoing talks last Friday.

The permanent secretary’s decision was taken on the same day the Cabinet announced he and three of his subordinates were under investigation for possible “serious disciplinary offences”.

The senior official also faces possible suspension from his post as permanent secretary after his minister, Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, applied to the Public Service Commission for the foursome’s suspension pending the conclusion of the state prosecutor’s investigation.

Emiliou has denied any involvement in allegedly engineering or altering an internal memo referring to February 7 meeting between the Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs to discuss the munitions cargo stored at the Evangelos Florakis naval base.

Commenting on Emiliou’s resignation, AKEL general secretary Andros Kyprianou said the permanent secretary had every right to make decisions based on what he felt expressed him.

“Just as we won’t comment on the general matter as AKEL until we have the relevant conclusions in our hands, nor will we take a stand on this issue until we have a complete conclusion in our hands,” he said.

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