News from Cyprus

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

European Party decides not to support either candidate in Cyprus elections

The European Party who has three seats in Parliament decided not to support any of the two candidates in the run off election for President of the Republic on Sunday. The party’s Political Bureau had earlier decided to suggest to the Central Council that members do not support either Kasoulides or Christofias for the presidency of the Republic. A total of 332 members voted in favour of the proposal, nine were against and there was one abstention. In statements European Party chairman Demetris Syllouris said the party, with “clear principles and dignity, notes it is present in the island’s political life and will exercise quality opposition and a positive approach to any proposals by the executive authority”. Syllouris also said his party is ready to face the hard times that are ahead for Cyprus. Earlier Wednesday, the Movement of Social Democrats EDEK decided to support the candidacy of Christofias in Sunday’s final round of presidential elections in Cyprus.

CYPRUS MAIL

Kasoulides voting ‘yes’ cost him DIKO backing

The refusal of Kasoulides to repent for his ‘yes’ vote on the Annan plan cost him the backing of centre-right party DIKO, said its leader Marios Karoyan yesterday. Karoyan tried to dispel rumours that the Presidential Palace had interfered in the final decision to back Christofias, pointing to the ghost of the 2004 referendum as the deciding factor. “We would have liked, so we could have taken the next important step with Mr Kasoulides, for him to have dealt with the issue of the Annan plan,” said Karoyan. “(To give) a stronger message, that his evaluation and judgement were wrong back then, not to belittle him, but to get the guarantees that would have reassured party members, because these are crucial issues,” he added. At the end of the day, Kasoulides voted ‘yes’ and Christofias ‘no’, said Karoyan. The DIKO leader noted that Christofias seemed to satisfy the party’s concerns on how he would approach the Cyprus problem, even though he wasn’t a first choice president. By backing Christofias, the party did not move one iota from its positions on the Cyprus problem and economy. Their four and a half years of cooperation in government also played a role, he added. The resumption of the AKEL-DIKO partnership and Karoyan’s latest comments raise pertinent questions as to what exactly were the differences between AKEL and DIKO that led the former to abandon their alliance. Kasoulides’ spokesman Loucas Fourlas described Karoyan’s statement as nothing but an “apology” for following party interest over the interests of the country. He argued that the country’s interests were in economic stability, highlighting AKEL’s parliamentary vote against entry to the eurozone. DIKO’s decision to back Christofias over Kasoulides on Tuesday night shocked many of its supporters who had expected the party to stay right of the political spectrum. Reports were rife on Tuesday that the party leadership, including Karoyan, had decided on Kasoulides. When the announcement came after midnight that the party had swung left to support Christofias, a number of party members were stunned. Media reports were filled with speculation that Papadopoulos had a big hand in the final decision, despite his earlier declaration of neutrality in this Sunday’s election runoff. The main officials pushing for Christofias during the marathon meetings came from Papadopoulos’ inner circle, including government spokesman Vasilis Palmas, Kyriacos Kenevezos and Nicos Pittokopitis, raising suspicions that the outgoing president had more to do with the outcome than he let on. One paper even reported that Karoyan had phone conversations with Papadopoulos and Christofias just before convening the party’s central committee, which played a decisive role in his apparent change of heart. Palmas yesterday said the rumours were “insulting”, stressing that claims of interference by Papadopoulos were not true. Former candidate Costas Themistocleous countered that anyone who believed Papadopoulos had no say in the matter, did not live on the island. Asked yesterday what had made him change his mind, Karoyan insisted that no decision had been taken to support Kasoulides at any point, but rather a discussion was held on the pros and cons of both candidates. He said it was not just a question of what DIKO could get from either candidate in terms of government participation but also how both candidates responded to Papadopoulos’ views on the Cyprus problem. According to reports on the candidate’s stated positions, little separated them on the Cyprus problem as both vowed not to bring the Annan plan back on the table and both agreed with the July 8 2006 process as a starting point for any future negotiations. The DIKO leader acknowledged that both candidates agreed with most of the 18 points set by Papadopoulos in his manifesto. So what was it that separated the two candidates? Kasoulides refusal to show remorse for his ‘yes’ to the Annan plan and DISY’s stinging criticism of the Papadopoulos government was the answer, despite the fact Kasoulides vowed not to return to the Annan plan in future negotiations. Karoyan called on DIKO members to respect the party line and rally around Christofias this Sunday. His plea was echoed by EU Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, who also sought to quash rumours that he was secretly in favour of backing Kasoulides. Speculation was rife yesterday as to what price AKEL paid in getting DIKO’s support. The foreign ministry and House Presidency is a certainty, as confirmed by Karoyan. One source suggested that George Lillikas was given the foreign ministry while Andreas Mavroyiannis would remain Cyprus’ permanent representative at the UN and Tasos Tzionis, the head of the president’s Diplomatic Office would stay in charge of the negotiating team. AKEL’s Andros Kyprianou was categorical in his denial. “For God’s sake, AKEL has no connection with Mr Lillikas. This is not even funny.” On Tzionis and Mavroyiannis, he said: “AKEL had no such discussions with anyone at all. Absolutely not.”

CYPRUS MAIL

Kasoulides is given the blessing of the Church

Following the removal of former ally Papadopoulos from the election race, Archbishop Chrysostomos turned his support to Kasoulides. Putting the division of state and church aside, the religious leader called on his flock to vote Kasoulides. “We have already agreed the framework within which we will move on education and without reservation, as the Church we advise our people to vote en masse for Mr Kasoulides and we are sure of the cooperation we will have in the new five-year term,” said the archbishop. The church leader discussed his main concerns with the right-wing candidate, the Cyprus problem and education, before giving his ominous outlook on the fate of future generations. “(Kasoulides) agrees with the wishes of the church to have a say in education issues because if we lose our children who represent the hope of the future of this place, then nothing can save us,” he said. Christofias said he was saddened by the church’s decision to take sides. The AKEL candidate said he expected the archbishop to stick to announcements of “love and unity and that’s it”. He accused DISY of taking the political climate back decades by spreading rumours that the AKEL leader would end religious education in schools if elected, something which he categorically denied. On the heels of DIKO’s late night decision to back Christofias on Tuesday, Papadopoulos campaign manager Georgios Lillikas also announced his support for the communist leader yesterday. The former AKEL member said he was happy that a tripartite alliance between AKEL, DIKO and EDEK could rule the country again. Lillikas insisted he had not changed his colours, since he had always said Christofias would be his second choice if Papadopoulos was ousted. Meanwhile, EDEK last night announced its decision to back Christofias following a lengthy. The United Democrats officially backed Christofias for the second round yesterday as did Marcoullis. EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou officially announced his party’s decision to back the AKEL candidate, after the vast majority of the central committee voted in favour for Christofias. EVROKO president Demetris Syllouris was less forthcoming in his support for both candidates, urging his party members to vote “neither for Mr Christofias nor for Mr Kasoulides”. Asked whether this meant he was calling on EVROKO supporters to cast blank votes, Syllouris said: “Everyone can interpret this how they wish.” The remaining fringe parties, the Greens and ADIK, will meet today to decide how to guide their members on Sunday. Former presidential candidate Costas Themistocleous who garnered 753 votes last Sunday, threw his weight for what it’s worth behind the DISY front man. “We have never excused Mr Christofias of his responsibility with regard to the impasse, lack of action and negative developments,” he said referring to the Cyprus problem. Former Nicosia Mayor and business man Michalakis Zampelas also announced his support to Kasoulides, as did political maverick Prodromos Prodromou. The first leak from DIKO following the hotly debated decision to back left-wing candidate Christofias came in the form of legal advisor to the DIKO President, Yiannakis Ioannou who gave the nod to Kasoulides instead. “It is my personal decision and I think it is the decision of many DIKO officials. I want to clarify that we have been soldiers of DIKO for many years and as such we will support the candidacy of Mr Kasoulides,” said Ioannou. DIKO’s Maronite supporters also expressed defiance against following the party line. “I am sorry that some have not realized their choices are in direct conflict with the views and principles of DIKO’s party base,” said Michalis Kiteos, head of the Nicosia DIKO Maronites. However, DIKO hit back at the so-called defectors, claiming in a later announcement that no such organization existed within the DIKO ranks. More subterfuge was in the works for DIKO yesterday after DIKO official Andreas Constantinou had to state publicly he was not behind a text message doing the rounds which called on the party faithful to ignore DIKO’s decision to vote for Christofias. Instead he called on party members to ignore these provocations and follow the party line.

CYPRUS MAIL

New EC Head of Representation in Cyprus

The European Commission yesterday announced the appointment of Commission official Androulla Kaminara as Head of Representation in Cyprus. Kaminara, whose appointment will officially come into effect on April 16, currently serves as the EC’s Director for Quality of Operations in “Europe Aid”. “Mrs Kaminara has a long standing and varied career in the Commission at high political level including the private offices of several Commissioners. She has negotiated agreements with partner countries and with international organisations, with professionalism and diplomatic skills,” an EC announcement read yesterday. “The Commission is pleased to have selected such an outstanding official with such wide experience as Ms Kaminara. Her communication talents will be of great service to the Commission in its work in Cyprus.”

Wednesday, February 20

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Socialists supports Christofia’s candidacy

The Movement of Social Democrats EDEK has decided to support the candidacy of Christofias in Sunday’s second and final round of presidential elections in Cyprus. The members of EDEΚ Central Committee were called to decide on the Political Bureau’s proposal to back Christofias candidacy. A total of 109 members of EDEK’s Central Committee voted for Christofias’ candidacy, five voted against and two abstained. EDEK President Yiannakis Omirou told the press that “the decision was taken after a long meeting during which a constructive and democratic spirit prevailed”. The decision was primarily based on the stance of the two candidates during the April 2004 referendum, Omirou noted.

CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Russia's stance on Cyprus problem unchanged

Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov has said that his country supports negotiations aiming at the unification of Cyprus.Lavrov also said that Russia would not change its stance regarding the role of the UN and its respect towards UN resolutions in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Babacan, Lavrov said ''we will support the negotiating process so that the sides agree on how to implement UN resolutions and how to restore Cyprus' unity with consensus and taking into consideration the interests of all sides.'' According to the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti, Lavrov said that Moscow’s stance on a Cyprus settlement remains the same. “A solution should be sought on the basis of UN decisions and with the agreement of all interested sides,” he added.

COMMENTARY

CYPRUS MAIL

Flawed election system needs to be addressed

“The horse-trading we have witnessed in the last three days, with the losing parties offering their electoral support to the highest bidder, does not paint a very flattering picture of political life. It serves as a reminder that the main concern of the political parties is to secure as big a share of the spoils of power as possible, an objective made easier by a flawed election system.

This is a system that allows the loser of the presidential elections to act like the victor and dictate his terms, in exchange for votes, on the winning candidates ahead of the second round of the election. Indicative of this perverse situation is that both candidates contesting Sunday’s election, visited the losing candidate, President Papadopoulos on Monday, to pay their respects and ask for his electoral support. They then visited the presidential party DIKO for talks with its leader. In a rational political system, it would have been the other way round, but because the winner of the presidential elections needs to receive 50 per cent plus one of the vote a second Sunday run-off is usually needed and the intervening period is used by the defeated parties to sell their support to the highest bidder. It is in this context we should view DIKO’s 180-degree turn after Tuesday lunchtime. Before lunchtime, DIKO leader Marios Karoyian had indicated that he had struck a deal with Ioannis Kasoulides, a decision that was opposed by Papadopoulos’ closest aides in the party and subsequently overturned. DIKO had every right to change its decision, but it also had an obligation to tell its voters why it had done so. More importantly, the man who benefited the most from this decision, Demetris Christofias, needs to inform voters what he offered the Papadopoulos camp in exchange for its support. Could he perhaps have agreed to follow the same disastrous policies on the Cyprus problem as Papadopoulos? If so, the voters deserve to know about it as Christofias took a third of the public vote on Sunday on the strength of his pledge to follow a different policy on the Cyprus problem than Papadopoulos’ which had taken us to the verge of partition. According to reliable sources Christofias struck a deal directly with the president (so much for the latter’s public assurances that he would “not directly or indirectly influence the elections”), who reportedly demanded that the AKEL leader maintained the Papadopoulos aides – diplomats Andreas Mavroyiannis and Tasos Tzionis – in their current posts as well as in the negotiating team. In short, Papadopoulos, despite being ousted by the voters, could still have a say on the handling of the Cyprus problem through his aides. Perhaps Christofias will change his mind, if elected, and not keep his side of the bargain, but what if he sticks to it? The voters have the right know the content of his deal with Papadopoulos before this Sunday’s election. After all, DIKO has said that it would back Christofias because of assurances he gave regarding the handling of the national problem. The fact is that Christofias was desperate for DIKO’s support in order to have a chance of winning on Sunday and could have promised Papadopoulos anything in order to secure it.”