A COUNCIL of Europe expert in Media and Elections has written to President Tassos Papadopoulos asking for details on the level of transparency and funding of campaign expenses for the April 24 referendum where Greek Cypriots overwhelmingly rejected Kofi Annan’s reunification plan with a 76 per cent majority.
Christophoros Christophorou, who worked on media legislation for Cyprus’ EU accession and carries out seminars for the Council of Europe wrote to the President on Tuesday in his capacity as a citizen of the Republic, asking for information during the period that preceded the referendum on the Annan plan.
Christophorou asked for various details on the funding of the information campaign and the backing of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote for the month of April.
He asked the government to specify what actions were undertaken to ensure transparency in relation to funding and expenses of public information campaigns and campaigns supporting either position on the plan.
“So far, public authorities have released no information on the following issues: Which forces participated in the information campaign on the provisions and the content of the Annan Plan and the significance of the referendum for Cyprus? What were their status and other features?” said Christophorou.
“Which forces campaigned in support of or against the Annan Plan? What was the cost and who were the sponsors of each campaign. Are there any figures on the amount each one contributed to the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ campaign?
“Which government departments took part in the campaign for information or in support of either position? What sums were spent from public funds and how they were distributed in relation to informing the public on the provisions and the content of the Annan Plan?”
Christophorou went on to ask which means the government departments used and what sum they spent for each activity.
“By ‘Informing the Citizens’ I am referring to objective presentation of facts and figures without any value judgment qualifying as positive or negative any provision or the entire Plan,” he added.
The Council of Europe expert explained that the April 24 referendum should be viewed as an important democratic process where “the overall features of the public stage in the period prior to the vote, the vote itself and the whole electoral process are decisive factors that determine the level of democracy of every society”.
“A major criterion in evaluating the electoral process is transparency in campaign funding and expenses of the political and other forces and of the state authorities taking part in the electoral process,” he said.
“If the state and government authorities take part in the information or the electoral campaign, this should be done in accordance with the principle that it represents All the citizens and that the public funds belong to all the citizens independently of their party or other affiliation,” added Christophorou.
The media expert argued that it was the right of every citizen and taxpayer to know about spending of public funds and the logic that governs their distribution. He said the state had an obligation in national and international law for transparency and proper management of public funds.
In the run-up to the April 24 referendum, Christophorou had expressed his concern after UN Special Envoy Alvaro de Soto and EU Enlargement Commissioner Gunter Verheugen were reportedly unable to secure a slot on CyBC or Antenna television channel.
Christophorou, who continues to carry out seminars for the Council of Europe in central and eastern Europe said at the time, “I truly feel ashamed when news reaches Brussels and Strasburg that similar phenomena are happening in my own country”.
The ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns running up to the historical referendum were marked by a stark polarisation and a tense atmosphere among Greek Cypriots.
