THERE was nothing innocent behind the controversial comments by the Director of the President’s Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis, opposition leader Nicos Anastassiades claimed yesterday.
In an interview with Phileleftheros published at the weekend, the President’s top aide raised more than a few eyebrows by asserting that that the Cyprus problem cannot be resolved on the basis of the Annan plan.
Senior coalition partners AKEL took exception to the statements, sternly reminding Tzionis that the National Council had long agreed the UN blueprint serves as a basis for a future settlement.
“I am positive that Mr. Tzionis’ remarks were not inadvertent,” Anastassiades said yesterday.
“His comments were dictated – and I stress that – by someone else.”
In effect, the DISY boss was implying that Tzionis’ contentious interview was not a case of ad lib – as the government contends – but a deliberate move okayed by none other than President Papadopoulos.
Anastassiades went on to wonder about the timing of the interview, saying it came “at a time when the arrival of UN and US government officials has been bandied about for several weeks now.”
“At long last, the Cypriot people will be able to realise that it is not the opposition which creates the wrong impressions abroad about the Cyprus problem,” he added.
The DISY leader made the statements at Larnaca airport shortly after returning from an official visit to Greece. Press reports said that Anastassiades cut his trip there short so in order personally to spearhead DISY’s response to the Tzionis controversy. The opposition party had been conspicuously silent about the affair while Anastassiades was absent.
But Anastassiades seized on the opportunity to cause more ripples in the government camp, wondering whether Tzionis’ comments were intended to “expose AKEL yet again.”
“And don’t forget that the [legislative] elections are on the horizon, so this could have been a calculated move to boost the President’s view [on the Cyprus issue],” he said.
Quizzed by journalists whether Tzionis’ interview had damaged the Greek Cypriot side’ position, Anastassiades said:
“No doubt. That goes without saying. But we shall not become embroiled in this theatre of the absurd that has been going on for some time now.”
Anastassiades was next asked what he anticipated from the rumoured arrival of UN officials in mid-December.
“Nothing. I’m not sure they’ll even be coming. Hopefully they will, and I hope that our positions will be clear.
“I don’t know whether [foreigners] know what we want…is the Annan plan a point of reference, is it a starting point for talks, or is it one of many plans that are being floated?”
Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides was yesterday at pains to rebut suggestions that the criticism levelled at Tzionis by AKEL leader Demetris Christofias indicated a rift in the government coalition.
“We have democracy, freedom of expression and the ability to exchange views…” he offered.
“The President has said that Mr Tzionis was expressing his personal opinion, and that the matter is closed. Evidently, Mr Christofias disagrees. That is all.”
