Archbishop ratchets up ‘OXI’ campaign

CHURCHGOERS attending Sunday’s liturgy got more than they bargained for when they were handed leaflets warning of the dire consequences of a rotating presidency.
Archbishop Chrysostomos subsequently took personal responsibility for the political leaflets.
Along with a brochure explaining the Gospel in simple terms, people were handed the leaflet calling on them to say ‘OXI’ or ‘NO’ to the rotating presidency and to the weighted vote, both proposed elements of a reunified state.
Printed on glossy paper, the pamphlets attack the two concepts, asserting that they would be disastrous for Cypriot Hellenism if included in a peace plan. The unsigned leaflet also takes a swipe at President Demetris Christofias:
“Our President must immediately withdraw this catastrophic, ‘brave offer’ of his because it is dangerous and racist, it abolishes the Cyprus Republic and goes against the principles of the European Union.”
If anything, the leaflets put paid to the conventional wisdom that politics and religion don’t mix.
The leaflets leave no doubts as to the political views of its authors. Among other things, they note: “There has never been anywhere in the world a system of a rotating president with executive powers. Instead of trying to create a democratic state with majorities (Greek Cypriots 82 per cent) and minorities (Turkish Cypriots 18 per cent), we are creating – unfortunately – for the first time and as a result of a ‘brave offer’ from our President, a racist regime…”
There follows an ominous warning: “Given that in the occupied areas the settlers are a majority…the likelihood of having a President who hails from mainland Turkey (i.e. a settler) is very high.”
The leaflets go on to say: “In Turkey, the Kurds amount to approximately 25 per cent of the population, and they inhabit mainly the southeastern part of the country. Why, then, do they not establish a bizonal federation with a rotating presidency there too? The question before Greek Cypriots is simple: If in 1963 or 1974 we had a Turkish president with a winning vote, would there even exist a Cyprus Republic today?”
And the punchline: “First and foremost, Greek Cypriots have a duty to safeguard their national identity and to secure their continued presence in the land of their fathers.”
The leaflet recalls that the “loathsome” Annan plan of 2004, rejected by 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots, also provided for a rotating presidency, even if under that plan the presidents did not have executive powers.
Apparently a few churchgoers were offended by the presence of political literature in the church and made their feelings known to church officials. Churchwardens were at a loss when quizzed about details (such as who the publishers were), but did say the leaflets had been sent from the Archbishopric.
Chrysostomos’ admission yesterday that he had personally given the go-ahead came 24 hours after the first news reports broke.
The Prelate conceded, however, that the authors of the leaflets could have dialled down the rhetoric:
“Despite the fact that I agree with the substance, there are some words which indeed are extreme and I did not agree with their inclusion. But since they [the leaflets] were already ready, I gave my permission and they were handed to the faithful. “The same content could have been presented but with different words,” he added.
Chrysostomos is widely seen as campaigning against the current reunification talks. The Prelate has the exposure, the audience and the resources to influence the political climate.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen on Sunday, AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou expressed grief over the incident. “Everyone has the right to voice their opinions, so long as they do it on the record so that the Cypriot people know who is distributing these leaflets,” he added.
The ‘NO’ pamphlet is the latest example of political material to be associated with the Church. Late last year churches began distributing free copies of a book written by former Central Bank Governor Christodoulos Christodoulou on the cost of a solution of the Cyprus problem.
Entitled “The Economics of Federation, of the Annan Plan and of the New Settlement Plan,” the book came out last autumn. The Archbishopric purchased half of the some 20,000 copies printed. Copies were distributed in churches across the island on Christmas Day.