By Charlie Charalambous
PRESIDENT Clerides yesterday said he would not deign to respond to criticism from Spyros Kyprianou.
But he did say the Diko leader was one of his greatest admirers.
Challenged by Kyprianou to explain why the alliance government had collapsed, Clerides issued a three-page statement yesterday “declining to comment”.
Kyprianou has repeatedly accused Clerides of treating him as an unequal partner in the Disy-Diko alliance, leading to the final break-up of the coalition.
Clerides took the opportunity of his response to make an electioneering statement in the wake of the Diko decision to join Akel in backing independent presidential candidate George Iacovou.
“When Mr Kyprianou, before many months, announced he would be a presidential candidate, he claimed he would be elected on the first Sunday, and I said it was his democratic right to put forward his candidature,” Clerides’ statement read.
But the president said he did not wish to respond to the various claims made by Kyprianou about the “lack of co-operation” between them.
“I will restrict myself to stressing that I am satisfied by the fact that Mr Kyprianou, before I announced my candidature, said he very much appreciated my achievements.”
Clerides said those achievements were the defence pact with Greece, the island’s EU progress and greater international interest on the Cyprus issue.
The president also pointed out that Kyprianou had offered him a role as his senior advisor if he stood down in his favour.
Clerides said the people would remember Kyprianou, at the time of the Diko- Disy alliance, announcing outside the Presidential Palace that “the subject of our discussion was the Cyprus problem and that he agreed with my handling of it.”
At a press conference yesterday, Kyprianou again claimed that Clerides had not consulted him on the national issue.
“He (Clerides) never informed me,” said Kyprianou, adding, “I didn’t even receive a phone call inviting me for a chat.”
Kyprianou “categorically denied” that his decisions were based on personal bitterness towards Clerides.
Clerides’ announcement also outlined his credentials for the job compared with Iacovou, although the latter wasn’t mentioned by name.
“We do not have the luxury to experiment and make mistakes, because we will pay a high price.”
Akel rose to the veiled criticism of Iacovou and Kyprianou, saying Europe and the Cyprus problem were safe in their hands.
