The incorporation and operation of the Foreign Policy, Defence and Security Council was decided by the Cabinet during its meeting on December 16. 

An announcement of the Presidency of the Republic states that the Council of Foreign Policy, Defence and Security will be located at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be under the high supervision of the President of the Republic and under the direct responsibility of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will chair its affairs.

The Council will function as a mechanism for joint reflection and consultation for the production of thought, ideas, suggestions and proposals with practical value in matters of Foreign Policy, Defence and Security, in order to assist the competent state bodies in their work.

The Council’s incorporation aims, inter alia, at leveraging the knowledge and thinking of well-known personalities in the fields of Foreign Policy, Defence and Security, as well as academics and experts for the purpose of diagnosing challenges and existing needs in these fields, but also in anticipating needs that may arise in the future.

The Council will consist of two bodies, the Steering Committee and the Consultative Body.

It is noted that the Steering Committee of the Council will consist of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence and the Chief of the Cyprus Intelligence Service, while other Ministers, Independent Officials, personalities and experts may be invited to its meetings, as appropriate. The Steering Committee will be responsible, among other things, for determining the issues to be studied or researched as well as for the relevant assignment.

The Consultative Body will consist of the members of the Steering Committee, accompanied by seven other full members who, with their knowledge, ideas and suggestions, can contribute substantially to the work of the Council. The full members will be appointed by the President of the Republic upon the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

The members of the Consultative Body, which may operate in various formations depending on the specialized subject, will be individuals with recognized experience in areas relevant to the subject matter of the Council, while the Body may be strengthened on an ad hoc basis by decision of the Steering Committee and with other members, the announcement concludes.

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