Pittokopitis urges public suicide for anyone who took cash

OUTSPOKEN DIKO deputy Nicos Pittokopitis said yesterday those who accepted money from foreign powers to promote the ‘yes’ vote in the referendum on the Annan plan should “publicly commit suicide”.

Talking to state radio yesterday in the ongoing row over government claims that America and other foreign powers pumped cash into Cyprus to promote the ‘yes’ vote, Pittokopitis said: “During the 2003 period the aim was to promote and impose the Annan plan, which the Cypriot people rejected. This is the essence and, based on the statements of the Americans, they funded organised groups and people to impose, promote and sell the Annan plan to the Cypriot people.

“Those who took the money to sell their country should go and commit suicide in public so that the Cypriot people should learn the truth or to serve as a future example to anyone.

“And what is the problem in this place: foreigners always seem to find cracks within our walls to pass through their interests.”

DISY spokesman Tassos Mitsopoulos was unimpressed by Pittokopitis’ outburst: “We totally condemn what Mr Pittokopitis said earlier today for three main reasons. First we don’t belong in that group; second, statements like that can poison our society; and third, it is blatantly provocative.”

Mitsopoulos added: “He believes that he can win publicity with the way he speaks but in the long-term he is only hurting the Cypriot community.”

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.