Public hearings concerning the deadly blast at the “Evangelos Florakis” naval base, near Limassol, continued on Thursday, with key officials testifying before the commission of inquiry.

Following the blast, on July 11, the government appointed a commission of inquiry, headed by lawyer Polis Polyviou, to investigate the circumstances that led to the massive explosion of munitions, which killed 13 people and destroyed the island’s main power station. The commission will also look into possible political responsibilities.

Head of the Cyprus President’s Diplomatic Office Leonidas Pandelides and Secretary of the President’s Diplomatic Office Iacovos Georgiou appeared before the commission on Thursday. Pandelides said that from September 6th 2010 when he submitted to President Christofias an internal memorandum about a meeting which took place at the Presidential Palace with the participation of Colonel Andreas Stavrou and Lieutenant Andreas Gennaris until the blast occurred he did not have any further communication regarding the containers with the Cyprus President.

He further added that he did not notify President Christofias about what happened at the meeting of February 7th 2011 because no decision was taken during the meeting. According to Pandelides the Ministers of Defence Costas Papacostas and External Affairs Marcos Kyprianou where in disagreement.