By Jean Christou
THE GOVERNMENT said yesterday that reports that Turkey was planning to provoke an incident on the island on the eve of Cyprus’ EU accession were unlikely but that the issue was not being taken lightly.
Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou told his daily briefing yesterday that Nicosia and Athens had discussed the issue during President Clerides` recent visit to Athens.
Parts of a leaked Greek Foreign Ministry document were published in Greece on Thursday, referring to the threats of an incident in the Aegean or instability in Cyprus on the eve of the island’s accession.
The confidential document dated May 7 said Cyprus and Greece had agreed to study all possible scenarios relating to the Turkish threats.
Papapetrou said that although the government was angered over the leak, the fact that the document existed at all showed that the threats were not being taken lightly by Nicosia, despite claims to the contrary by the opposition.
He said that although such an incident was unlikely, from the moment Turkey had issued the threat, Cyprus and Greece felt they must be prepared.
“Maybe the impression was given that the leak revealed remarkable news, but the government has fully informed all the party leaders on what was discussed in Athens,” he said.
Papapetrou said that although had been discussed, no decisions had been taken. He added that if the need arose, the issue would be brought before the National Council.
Ruling DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades echoed Papapetrou’s comments and said the National Council should meet soon after tomorrow’s parliamentary elections.
“On the one hand, we should not play down the threats, but on the other hand we should not exaggerate them either,” he said.
But communist AKEL leader Demetris Christofias denied every having been informed of the document during his meeting with Clerides when the President returned from Athens. He said his party had been calling for a National Council meeting since January and added that one should have been held before the Athens meeting.
“The President told me no in-depth discussions took place there and no decisions were made,” he said.
Socialist KISOS leader Vassos Lyssarides said he had been informed of the content of the meeting but added that it had not been an in-depth discussion.
He said the party was told that there were two possible scenarios: one involved a possible incident in the Aegean to postpone Cyprus` accession and the other an attempt to create instability on the island to make the EU question whether it should allow the island to join.
