DISY MP Nikos Georgiou is seeking explanations from Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, asking what specific need led President Christodoulides to appoint Tornaritis as Special Political Envoy for the Cyprus issue in countries across Asia and Africa.
In a letter dated 22 September 2026, Georgiou puts forward a total of nine questions to the foreign minister. Among other things, he seeks to know whether there was prior consultation with Kombos, what Tornaritis' role will be in relation to the Republic's existing diplomatic network, from which budget his missions will be funded, and what specific results are expected from his appointment.
Georgiou is also requesting that the proposal prepared for Tornaritis' appointment, as well as the plan presented to the Council of Ministers for the two continents, excluding any classified information, be submitted to parliament.
Georgiou's letter
The letter sent by Georgiou to the foreign minister through parliamentary channels states:
"By decision of the Council of Ministers, Mr Nikos Tornaritis was recently appointed as the President of the Republic's Special Political Envoy for the Cyprus issue in countries of Asia and Africa.
Accordingly, the competent minister is requested to brief the House on the following:
1. What specific need led to the creation and appointment of a Special Political Envoy, given that the Republic of Cyprus has a Ministry of Foreign Affairs, diplomatic missions and existing channels for promoting the Cyprus issue?
2. How many other Special Political Envoys for the Cyprus issue has the President of the Republic appointed during the current administration? Is there an intention to make further similar appointments?
3. Was there prior briefing and consultation with the Minister of Foreign Affairs before this appointment? If so, what was his position and recommendation regarding the necessity and role of the Special Envoy?
4. In relation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, what is the specific programme of contacts already scheduled in countries of Asia and Africa, and which countries does it concern? Will the Special Political Envoy be utilised within the framework of the existing diplomatic planning and contacts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the two continents and, if so, in what specific way?
5. How will meaningful coordination between the Special Envoy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs be ensured, so that there is a single and coordinated foreign policy and overlaps or parallel handling are avoided?
6. Given that the appointment is unpaid, from which budget will mission expenses be covered and what procedure will be followed for the approval and auditing of the relevant expenditure?
7. At the beginning of the current administration, or subsequently, was there any person or institutional office-holder carrying out a similar mission to promote the Cyprus issue in countries of Asia and Africa? If so, what were the results of that activity?
8. What specific results are expected to arise from this appointment that cannot be achieved through the existing structures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic network of the Republic of Cyprus?
9. If the government considers this particular diplomatic effort in Asia and Africa necessary, why was it not announced, or deemed necessary, during the first year of the current administration? What new developments in the Cyprus issue or in the international diplomatic environment make this appointment necessary today?
Additionally, given that the Government Spokesman publicly stated that a proposal had been prepared for the appointment, submitted to and approved by the Council of Ministers on the basis of a specific plan for the two continents, please submit to the House the proposal and the planning that were presented to the Council of Ministers, excluding any information that may justifiably be considered classified."
