The President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, has received the new President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou, elected to the post by the House plenary on Thursday.

In his statements after the meeting, Omirou said that he will aim to have “a harmonious, smooth, institutional and political cooperation” with the President of the Republic, to serve the interests of the people of Cyprus and society at large.

“I anticipate that this relationship between the two institutions of the Republic will be maintained both by myself and the President of the Republic, based on the separate powers and competences each institution (the parliament and the state) exercises,” he added.

Omirou expressed hope that this spirit of cooperation will be observed by both sides.

Replying to a question about today’s meeting with the leaders of the parliamentary parties, Omirou said that there was consensus regarding the allocation of the House Committees` chairs and the number of committees to be set up.

It is expected that this process will be completed next Thursday, he said.

The 56 newly elected MPs assumed on Thursday their duties at the first House plenary, during which they elected Omirou as the House President.