A TEAM of DISY party officials, headed by leader Nicos Anastassiades, visited enclaved Greek Cypriots in the Karpas region yesterday, sparking further criticism from coalition forces.
The DISY representation visited Greek Cypriots in Ayia Triada before moving on to Rizokarpaso from where they saw the beleaguered primary school and high school that is set to open again this September. The group also paid homage to the saints at Apostolos Andreas sitting on the northeast peak of the island.
During his visit, a clearly moved Anastassiades highlighted the need to build a bridge of understanding between Greek and Turkish Cypriots so that the Turkish Cypriot community could become aware of Greek Cypriot concerns.
“The reasons we are seeking meetings with Turkish Cypriot parties is to help overcome these concerns, and the lack of trust so we can all live happily together again, and I think we can accomplish this,” he said.
Regarding the cool response to his party’s recent visits to the north, the DISY leader said it shouldn’t bother anyone when bold decisions had to be taken that could help save the country.
“It is cowardice to avoid taking decisions but it takes boldness, courage and patriotism to discover what these people have been living through for 30 years,” he said.
The enclaved informed the party of their needs, including concerns about high school education, lack of direct telephone access with the free areas and the easier trade of veterinary products.
Anastassiades said he would pass on their concerns to President Tassos Papadopoulos, adding that solving the problems also required good will on the part of the Turkish Cypriot leadership and the occupying forces.
Asked about Papadopoulos’ desire to meet Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, he replied: “I don’t want to comment on the opinions of anyone. I am literally on a pilgrimage, not only to Apostolos Andreas but to the land of Karpasia. My only appeal to everyone is let them have the courage to make just one visit.”
Acting head of governing party, DIKO, Nicos Cleanthous, characterised yesterday’s visit to the enclaved as an “excursion and public relations visit”.
“If only they weren’t excursions and PR visits. What can they say when to us they basically say that by voting against the Annan plan we deprived the people from going home?” asked Cleanthous.
He pondered further: “Does this show that they want to help explain the ‘no’ of the Cypriot people or ultimately and involuntarily that they support the hired help of Ankara who we now know are the same people as they were before.”
Asked to respond to these claims, Anastassiades replied: “The living heroes of Karpasia can answer him.”
Regarding the decision by the Turkish Cypriot authorities to open the Rizokarpaso High School, KS EDEK socialist leader Yiannakis Omirou highlighted that this was not the achievement of one party alone but the work of all parties.
Omirou joined European Democracy deputy Prodromos Prodromou and ADIK leader Dinos Michailides in voicing concern over DISY visits to the north.
Meanwhile, DISY spokesman Tassos Mistopoulos announced yesterday that the party intended to begin a new phase of meetings with Turkish Cypriots, including representatives of the media, trade unions and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce.
