President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and DIKO leader Marios Garoyian held a second meeting on Saturday evening at the Presidential Palace, during which they decided to continue talks regarding the government coalition.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, which lasted two hours, Garoyan said that “these meetings are not just customary , they include all the core issues of the coalition, issues related to citizens and society and to our country”.

Garoyan said with President Christofias they discussed “in detail and extensively a lot of issues “, adding that “he agreed with President’s suggestion to continue the talks in the next few days”.
He clarified that “no names were discussed for the government’s reshuffle, as some would have imagined”.
Replying to a question, DIKO leader said that “AKEL’s leader will not be present at our next meeting as well”.

President Christofias and DIKO leader began talks last Thursday with regards to the future of the government coalition, in view of a cabinet reform.

Last Thursday President of the Republic President of the Republic asked all Ministers to tender in their resignations.

The following day DIKO President announced five steps to help the government make a new start, following the massive explosion at the “Evaggelos Florakis“ naval base which killed 13 persons.
The blast badly damaged the island’s main power plant, at Vasiliko, resulting in daily power cuts.

The blast occurred in containers, full of munitions, which Cyprus had confiscated from “Monchegorsk“, a vessel sailing from Iran to Syria in 2009. Nicosia was acting in accordance with UN sanctions against Teheran.

The Democratic Party participated in the 11-member government of Demetris Christofias with three Ministers, along with left wing party AKEL.