THE COALITION rift appeared to be widening yesterday with hidden innuendo disguised behind calls for cooperation from both ruling AKEL and partner DIKO.
Despite holding two high-level fence-mending meetings during the week, it is clear that behind the pubic smiles, the issues have remained unresolved.
A hint that all was still not well came to the fore yesterday when both Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou and AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou made it clear President Demetris Christofias would not be “held hostage” to any party.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou responded by saying the party did not intend to play a “walk-on” role in the government.
Relations between the government and DIKO have been on shaky ground since the partnership was first formed after the presidential elections in February 2008.
Since then, DIKO has been a constant critic of the government, particularly over Christofias’ handling of the direct talks.
“I want to clarify once again that the President of the Republic was elected based on a specific programme, which he presented to the Cypriot public and he is committed to this programme,” Kyprianou said. “The President of the Republic cannot be a hostage to any (political) party”.
He said however that AKEL agreed to the need for better cooperation between the coalition partners.
But Kyprianou’s “hostage” comment seemed to hit a raw nerve with Fotiou, who described the statements as “unfortunate, at the least”.
DIKO never intended to play “a walk-on part” in the government when it agreed to support side with Christofias for the presidency.
“Our intention wasn’t and isn’t to put the President of the Republic under our thumb,” said Fotiou. ‘However this country is facing critical issues and critical decisions about our national issue and the economy and we want to be involved in shaping these decisions. This is the meaning of a policy of cooperation. We have not ever taken the role of ‘an extra’. It’s a role that doesn’t suit us, and which we don’t want.”
He said DIKO wanted the partnership to be reinstated on the correct foundations and principles, with mutual respect and the formation of clear positions on various issues.
He added this was what was lacking from the partnership and was made clear to Christofias during his meeting with DIKO leader Marios Garoyian on Friday.
Fotiou said DIKO was now expecting initiatives from the President, to improve the partnership as well as the government’s image.
The matter would be discussed at a party level on Tuesday, Fotiou said.
Government Spokesman Stefanou attempted to keep the peace yesterday, speaking of the wish to salvage the partnership when asked what might happen.
“I keep getting the message that a collapse of the coalition is imminent and I would say this is kind of arbitrary, in the sense that by recognising the problems and everyone having their own views regarding these problems, efforts are being made to overcome them,” he said.
However he added, in a pointed dig at DIKO: “Participating in a government offers rights but also obligations and each of us need to assess our own behaviour and attitude, to make the partnership work”.
One of the issues separating the two parties also surfaced yesterday in relation to Cyprus joining the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP), which AKEL opposes.
Fotiou said it was in the interests of Cyprus to join.
His comments came after statements made in Turkey by NATO Secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen who said the lack of cooperation between Turkey and the EU was hampering operations in Afghanistan.
“At the moment, the problem is the absence of an agreement on security between the EU and Turkey. In addition, NATO couldn’t have an agreement on a security deal with Cyprus,” Rasmussen said.
Stefanouj responded yesterday by saying Turkey was crating the problems by obstructing Cyprus’ participation in various international organisations.
“It is not the differences between Cyprus and Turkey that creates the problems but Ankara itself, and it is to Ankara that the EU needs to turn and request a realisation of its obligations,” said Stefanou.
Commenting on DISY MEP Ioannis Kasoulides’ view that the situation would improve for Cyprus if it joined the Partnership for Peace, Stefanou said the government’s view on the matter was well known.
