On January 12, the Cabinet of Ministers met at the Presidential Residence in Troodos to discuss the government's plans and actions for 2025, as well as outstanding issues from the past year.
The Cabinet meeting began at 10:00 and ended around 18:00. Addressing his ministers, President Nikos Christodoulides said that it is important for each cabinet member to strictly follow the decisions taken, which must be implemented in 2025. He also said that the government's coordinated initiatives will be presented to him on January 29 in his State of Affairs Address. Christodoulides recalled that the goals of the central government are to improve the daily lives of citizens and create conditions for further progress. All initiatives under these goals must be implemented in a manner consistent with the principles of accountability and transparency.
Unsolved challenges of 2024 and new initiatives
The meeting was called to discuss priorities for 2025. It was noted that the policies of each department should be brought into line with the goals that the government has set for the specified period. The Cabinet also reviewed those tasks for 2024 that have not been resolved.
Let us recall that at the beginning of 2024 the head of state spoke about 88 tasks. “I am glad that a significant number of them have already been resolved,” the head of state summed up at a government meeting on January 12, noting that the unresolved issues are related to the Legal Service and the procedures for checking bills. A number of important issues are also being considered by parliamentary committees. If necessary, the president is ready to appeal to parliament with a request for their early discussion and vote.
Presidential address to the nation
On January 29, 2024, the President of the Republic of Cyprus addressed the nation for the first time with a speech on what the government’s plans and objectives are for the new period. Nikos Christodoulides announced that such appeals will henceforth become regular. This year it is again scheduled for January 29.
High-profile murder case of a Pakistani citizen
Among the topics discussed by the government was the murder of a 24-year-old Pakistani citizen. His body was found in Strovolos on January 5. The medical examiner who performed the autopsy initially said the death was not caused by foul play. However, four days later he revised his conclusion, stating that the young man was killed by a bullet in the back. It was soon confirmed that the Pakistani citizen had indeed been shot dead with a service weapon. The medical examiner was suspended from his duties for initially making a false report.
The murder investigation continues. Cypriot media reports that a man was in a car that tried to cross the Green Line in the Potamia area (near Afienou) with a group of refugees inside. The police officers, who were called in for questioning, claim that they fired at the car's tires. How exactly the man was killed and why his body ended up further in Strovolos remains to be seen.
Actions of the Prosecutor General's Office
The Prosecutor General informed members of the government that criminal investigator Ninos Kekkos, appointed by the Prosecutor General's Office, must fully reconstruct the entire chain of events and finally shed light on this tragedy.
The text was prepared based on materials from Cyprus Mail, Politis, Phileleftheros and Sigma.
