Marinos Mousiouttas had expressed 'personal views' and government cooperation with DIKO was exemplary, President Christodoulides said, after the recently appointed Labour Minister, a DIPA official, referred to the Nicholas Papadopoulos GSI remarks as 'survival games serving political expediencies,' during a CyBC interview.
The President further clarified that he had not responded to a relevant letter sent by Papadopoulos on the issue, as it had already been made public. He further expressed readiness to have a tete a tete with the Democratic Party leader.
'I can certainly meet with him, this is not something that I rule out', he clarified, noting that he respected the Papadopoulos view, as the case was with any other leader of parties making up the coalition administration.
Christodoulides said that 'exemplary cooperation' was not just a manner of speaking, but represented actionable projects the parties had collectively achieved, such as the taxation reform after 22 years, housing and other such programmes.
'DIKO has an important role to play', it was added.
He responded after Papadopoulos told public radio this morning that the President 'needed to make up his mind on whom he supported', noting that it was necessary to assure DIKO voters who elected him to the post.
'The finance minister needs to stop talking', Papadopoulos underscored, referring to the fact that Makis Keravnos has expressed disagreement with the financial viability of the project, saying that 'numbers had to be right'.
On the substance of the GSI project, the President noted that it was of 'geostrategic importance', adding that Nicosia was in daily contact with Athens, coordinating on next steps. He further reiterated that a feasibility study needed upgrading.
'I spoke to Greek PM Mitsotakis today and we discussed the GSI amongst other issues', Christodoulides disclosed, concluding that importance lay on the outcomes of the current administration, a result jointly achieved.