By Jean Christou
THE GOVERNMENT is angry over leaks to the media on the sensitive Cyprus talks, just a day after President Clerides briefed the National Council on developments during the first round of proximity talks in New York last month.
Clerides has written to all the party leaders concerning the leaks, government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou said yesterday.
Until the National Council meeting last Thursday, not a word had appeared in the press on what had been discussed in New York, in line with a news blackout imposed by UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan.
But diplomats’ fears (expressed to the Cyprus Mail before Christmas) that members of the National Council would breach the news embargo came true on Friday.
Phileleftheros newspaper reported in detail that the UN was promoting the idea of constitutional changes to transform the government from a presidential democracy to a parliamentary one.
The paper also said that, on the territorial issue, Clerides supported the return of 66 to 75 per cent of refugees to their homes, and that an idea had been put forward that the Turkish side would keep 24 per cent of the island as opposed to the current 37 per cent.
“As you know, the proximity talks are being carried out in confidentiality, ” Papapetrou said yesterday. “There has been a call from the Secretary- general for no statements to be made on this issue.”
Papapetrou said that the Cyprus government was cooperating with the embargo and was not about to make public anything to do with the talks.
“With the opportunity given by this question,” he added, “I would like to tell you that the President has sent letters to the members of the National Council in which he states that after the National Council meeting there were leaks to the press on the issues that the National Council was informed on. He notes these leaks, and said they were in violation of the embargo.”
Asked about possible constitutional changes, Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades confirmed yesterday that there was talk of this happening, but added that the UN had not asked Cyprus for its position yet. He denied that any decision on this issue would be taken when the National Council met again today.
“What I hear being said is not quite true,” he said. “That (on Tuesday) the National Council will discuss whether it will accept a change to the governmental system. Discussions are being carried out and opinions are being stated, but at the current stage the UN is not asking us when and how.”
Communist Akel spokesman Andreas Christou said what was more important was the type of government that would emerge from a solution.
“Some of the press gave the wrong impression,” he said.
“The President did indeed inform us about this issue but these are not new issues. They have been discussed before. And in any case a position on this will not be reached (on Tuesday). These are still thoughts and concerns that will be developed and a position will be taken at a later stage,” he said.
