News from Cyprus

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

DIKO to support Christofias candidacy

The Democratic Party has decided to support the candidacy of Christofias in Sunday’s second and final round of presidential elections. During voting that took place among the members of DIKO Central Committee, 112 members voted for Christofias’ candidacy and 50 in favour of Kasoulides’ candidacy. Nine abstained and another nine cast a blank vote. The result of the vote was announced at one o’ clock in the morning today after a meeting of the Central Committee which lasted more than seven hours, which was convened after meetings of the Secretariat and the Executive Bureau of the party. DIKO President Marios Karoyian said that “everybody in the Democratic Party will support the candidacy which the majority of the Central Committee voted for” adding that this decision serves the interests of the country and the party. In a first reaction to DIKO’s decision, in a statement on behalf of Kasoulides’ electoral bureau Tasos Mitsopoulos said that DIKO’s decision is respected. At the same time he said that Kasoulides’ candidacy is supported by citizens from all political parties and expressed faith in the judgment of the people.

CYPRUS MAIL

All forgiven: DIKO backs Christofias

DIKO last night voted to rekindle its alliance with AKEL and EDEK by throwing its vote behind Christofias... Looking rough after a marathon session of meetings, DIKO leader Marios Karoyan told reporter: “The decision, we believe was in the best interest of the country and the party.” ... DIKO held discussions with both candidates. “As president of my party, I met, I talked and did what I was required to do for the country and the party,” said Karoyan. “It was a critical decision and not easy.” Reports said DIKO had been promised three ministries including the Foreign Ministry and the presidency of the House.... Reports said DIKO leadership had sought advice from the Presidential Palace but that Papadopoulos had repeated his earlier statements that he would back neither of his rivals... After five hours of discussions it was decided to resort to a secret ballot which ended after midnight... According to reports, party leader Marios Karoyan and long-time members Nicos Pittokopitis, Spokesman Vassilis Palmas and Kyriacos Kenevezou were behind Christofias. Other reports said one of the voices who spoke for joining Kasoulides was Marcos Kyprianou... Reacting after the vote, DISY spokesman Tassos Mitsopoulos acknowledged DIKO’s decision and called on Cypriots to look to the future. “Last Sunday a new era began in our country. The Cypriot people decided to leave the past behind and move forward,” he said. “Sunday’s decision will be critical. Are we going to be an EU state or a state of Eurosceptics... No one can afford to lose this chance to go forward.”

CYPRUS MAIL

AKEL: we shared a common path with Tassos

With only two candidates left in the election run off, the AKEL knives came out yesterday against Kasoulides. AKEL spokesman Andros Kyprianou defended Papadopoulos... He said on the other hand that Kasoulides and DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades had been offensive in their criticism of the outgoing president. “We may have disagreed with some of the President’s choices but we generally follow the same common course,” said Kyrprianou. “Our criticisms were soft and mainly constructive compared to those of Messrs Anastassiades and Kasoulides. Kyprianou also slammed the rival camp’s handling of the Cyprus issue and reared the spectre of the hated Annan Plan. “We seek a solution that would be consistent with international and European rights as well as international conventions on human rights that will foresee the withdrawal of Turkish troops and settlers, restore the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus and which will exclude the right of unilateral military intervention,” said Kyprianou. He added the party would also accept the political equality of the two communities as determined in UN resolutions. He then said the DISY camp would follow a different course and referred to their “thoughtless yes” to the Annan Plan.

Tuesday, February 19

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

FM: No reference on two separate states in GAERC text on Kosovo

Marcoullis said that Cyprus deems as important the fact the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions on Kosovo do not contain references pointing to the recognition of a separate state. Marcoullis made statements to the press after her arrival from Brussels where she participated in GAERC meeting which addressed the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) by Kosovo last Sunday. ''For Cyprus it is important that the Council's conclusions include terms and references to the international law, the Security Council resolutions and certainly without any references pointing to a separate state in Kosovo,'' he said. Echoing the Cypriot FM's press release issued yesterday noting that the Kosovar UDI ''constitutes a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia,'' Marcoullis said that ''the developments are regretful.'' The Council conclusion notes that ''Member States will decide, in accordance with national practice and international law, on their relations with Kosovo.'' The conclusions do not include ''any references to recognition whatsoever and it is stressed in no uncertain terms that the member-states will decide according to their national practice and the international law,'' Marcoullis said. ''For us there is a strong reference to the commitment of member-states to the Security Council resolutions and of course that the case of Kosovo is considered as sui generis,'' Marcoullis concluded.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

UNFICYP to stay as long as necessary

The United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has said it will remain on the island as long as necessary. An UNFICYP press release, issued here today in response to press reports, said “reports in the English-language media today that the United Nations intended to pull out of Cyprus in the event of a victory by President Papadopoulos are totally baseless and irresponsible.” UNFICYP notes that “the United Nations has been in Cyprus for over four decades helping to keep the peace and assisting the parties in their search for a comprehensive solution.” “It will continue to do so as long as Cypriots and the international community deem it necessary”, it adds.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Papadopoulos: no involvement in Sunday’s poll

Papadopoulos, respecting the free will of the citizens of Cyprus, will not attempt to influence, either directly or indirectly, the vote of the citizens in the run off presidential elections. In a statement on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace, Papadopoulos assured that he would always be present, beside the people, in pursuit of the solution of the Cyprus problem that ''we deserve,'' adding that Cyprus has today favourable prospects and conditions for even better times. Papadopoulos said that “during my term in office and throughout my political career, my thoughts, my decisions and my actions have always emanated from my love for the country and my concern for the people.'' ''I deliver the Republic of Cyprus as an equal member of the EU with a robust economy, a fiscal surplus, with the euro as its currency, with a strengthened welfare state, with new institutions and changes that have made the everyday life of the citizens better. I deliver a Republic which is dignified and respected internationally, stronger than ever, to pursue and achieve the solution we deserve,'' he said. He added that ''our country has today favourable prospects and conditions for even better days.'' Papadopoulos noted that ''last Sunday the people chose the two candidates that will run for the presidency of the Republic of Cyprus in the second round of the elections.'' ''I have always addressed the citizens with respect to their judgment and their free will. It is precisely for this reason, again respecting the free will of each citizen, that I do not wish to attempt, either directly or indirectly, to influence in these elections the vote of the citizens who trust me,'' he said. He added that ''I will always be present, next to the people and with the people, in pursuit of the solution we are entitled to and deserve.'' Asked where he attributed the result of the first round of the elections, Papadopoulos said, ''To the judgment and will of the people, which is respected, fully respected, as their judgment will also be fully respected in the run off.''

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Wurtz welcomes Christofias' qualification for second round of elections

President of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left Group in the European Parliament Francis Wurtz has welcomed that fact that left-wing AKEL Secretary General Demetris Chrsitofias qualified for the second round of presidential elections in Cyprus, to take place February 24. “I welcome as very good news the fact that following the first round of presidential elections in Cyprus, Dimitris Christophias - Secretary General of the AKEL party - qualified for the second round of this decisive election for the future of the island, with the remarkable score of 33.3%!,” Wurtz said in a written statement. As he noted “this mark of confidence by his fellow citizens is a sign of recognition for the leading role that has been played by this statesman for a long time in the social and political life of his country and for the reunification of the island.” “In my capacity as President of the GUE-NGL Group in the European Parliament, I am proud to maintain excellent relations with Dimitris Christophias, his party and his MEPs. We wish you every success for next Sunday,” he concluded.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Germany and EPP congratulate Kasoulides for passing to run off elections

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the European People's Party (EPP) have expressed their congratulations to Ioannis Kasoulides, who has passed into the second round of the presidential elections... EPP President Wildfied Martens and President of the EPP Group in the European Parliament Joseph Daul have expressed in written statements their congratulations and support to Kasoulides. According to a Democratic Rally (DISY) press release, Martens expresses ''satisfaction over the fact that the people of Cyprus supported a candidate with a true European profile,'' adding that the EPP supported Kasoulides because ''he is the candidate that will bring Cyprus to the heart of Europe.'' Daul says in his statement, according to DISY, that Kasoulides ''is the statesman who can unite all political forces that contributed to the construction of the European prospect for Cyprus.'' According to DISY, an EPP member backing Kasoulides, Daul notes that the specific candidate, with his experience and strong international contacts, could give Cyprus a new European prospect through dialogue.