Keep your opinions to yourself, Kyprianou tells Vassiliou

By Andy Georgiades

DIKO leader Spyros Kyprianou yesterday launched a fierce attack on the government’s chief EU negotiator, saying he should keep his opinions on defence matters to himself.The House President — well-known for his own outspoken political viewpoints — said that although George Vassiliou was entitled to his opinions, the United Democrats (UD) leader should not act as a “loose cannon”, especially after accepting the post of chief negotiator on the EU accession team.

Vassiliou on Tuesday said the Greek Cypriot side should unilaterally initiate various measures to help reduce tensions on the island.

But Kyprianou did not take the comments lightly: “He is sending the wrong message, because he is linked to the president and the government, by saying we can start demilitarisation unilaterally and that we should not show weapon systems during parades,” the Diko leader said.

Kyprianou added that his feelings were “nothing personal,” and that perhaps Vassiliou should not have accepted his new posting if he wanted to remain leader of the UD and express political opinions.

The House president said his problem with Vassiliou’s comments was that they could be falsely interpreted abroad as an official government position.

This is not the first time that Vassiliou’s role has been questioned.

Government spokesman Christos Stylianides tried to clarify yesterday exactly which powers Vassiliou would be granted as chief negotiator.

According to reports, Attorney-general Alecos Makrides defined Vassiliou’s position as having access to state information, advising the ministries, choosing assistants, and having appropriate support from the state.

The position does not, however, include any executive powers.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.