Minister seeks talks on police
Alternate Interior Minister Christos Markoyiannakis will tomorrow send a letter to opposition party leaders, sources revealed yesterday, asking them to participate in a dialogue to improve the effectiveness of policing in the city center, set up a cross-party committee on national security and introduce surveillance cameras in parts of the city. Another issue for debate will be the process by which police officers are recruited, according to sources who said that the minister also intends to broach the issue of tackling demonstrations in the city center. Authorities are reportedly reluctant to address the issue now, fearing its exploitation by the opposition during a tense time for the government in view of the Pavlidis affair and upcoming European Parliament elections. But, the sources said, the issue of rallies – and whether any restrictions should be imposed to facilitate traffic circulation – is expected to be raised in due course.
