President Nikos Christodoulides has once again declined to reveal details of an anticipated cabinet reshuffle, insisting that changes to the government are not pre-announced but disclosed only after final decisions have been taken.
The President made the remarks during an interview with ANT1 journalist Elli Kotzamani, amid mounting speculation over a reshuffle and ongoing efforts to restart Cyprus settlement talks.
Asked whether he was proceeding with a cabinet reshuffle following weeks of reports and speculation, Mr Christodoulides noted that the issue had been publicly debated for around two months.
He said names and scenarios continue to circulate on a daily basis but declined to confirm any of them.
"A reshuffle is not pre-announced, it is announced," he said, refusing to indicate when final decisions would be made.
Only reference to agriculture minister's departure
The President did, however, confirm that the Minister of Agriculture had decided to leave the government.
"Within that framework, everything will happen in due course, at some point," he said.
It was the only substantive reference he made to changes within the cabinet, providing no further indication as to who might leave or join the government.
Rumours do not help
Asked whether the prolonged public discussion surrounding the reshuffle was creating difficulties both for serving ministers and for those being tipped as possible replacements, Mr Christodoulides agreed that the situation was not producing positive results.
"Certainly, the public discussion, especially in the way it is taking place, does not help any of those involved," he said.
He also referred to the approach followed by the late Glafcos Clerides, noting that changes were not announced while public speculation was ongoing, suggesting that he was following a similar practice.
Cyprus issue remains the priority
The President said his attention in recent weeks had been focused on developments relating to the Cyprus problem, including the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the contacts that took place during that period.
He said his primary objective had been to ensure proper preparation for the meetings and make full use of the Secretary-General's presence in Cyprus in order to secure meaningful progress on the national issue.
"The reshuffle is certainly important, but it was not a priority amid all these developments and the presence of the Secretary-General in Cyprus," he said.
'My friend Averof'
Commenting on criticism by former DISY leader Averof Neophytou, who suggested that some people were preparing for holidays instead of working on the preparations requested by the UN Secretary-General ahead of a new expanded Cyprus meeting, Mr Christodoulides said he did not believe the comments were directed at him.
"I have repeatedly said that we will be working throughout August and I believe that my friend Averof Neophytou was not referring to me. I will not be going on holiday," the President said.
Mr Christodoulides also revealed that he intends to seek a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman.
