PRESIDENT DEMETRIS Christofias yesterday met with the leaders of government partner DIKO and opposition party DISY in a possible effort to piece together some semblance of unity ahead of today’s National Council meeting.
He first met with House President and DIKO leader Marios Garoyian who came out the meeting saying he expected to see “tangible moves towards closer cooperation between the government and DIKO” in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters, Garoyian said: “I believe we took some steps forward.”
The government’s relationship with its main partner DIKO has been shaky since DIKO took the unexpected decision to back Christofias’ election bid in February 2008. The differences have focused mainly on how to handle the Cyprus problem negotiations, though DIKO has also accused the AKEL government of not being inclusive enough when making policy.
Following yesterday’s meeting, just a day before the National Council convenes, their rocky relationship appears to have entered gentler ground.
“I believe there were convergences on many issues. There will be tangible moves towards strengthening this cooperation in the coming days,” said Garoyian.
The DIKO leader, who has often played moderator between renegade forces within his own party who wish to follow EDEK and leave the government and the more moderate elements, said his party had a lot to contribute to Cyprus, in terms of challenges faced and creating conditions for the desired unity on the domestic front.
Yesterday’s talks appeared to concentrate on how to promote DIKO’s role in policy-making in government. “That is the most important,” said Garoyian.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou confirmed that the two had a “very constructive and productive” meeting.
Christofias discussed with Garoyian how to further promote cooperation on a governmental level with DIKO, he said, noting that the president planned to meet with DIKO’s Executive Office in October.
In what seems like a major concession by the AKEL-ruling government, Stefanou said the two agreed that ministers would meet with DIKO’s policy-making committees to have better consultations on government issues, giving DIKO a “timely say” on matters.
Furthermore, DIKO’s Executive Office would also meet with the Cyprus problem negotiating team to be briefed on talks.
“It was a very constructive discussion, decisions from which can contribute further to promoting cooperation and participation of DIKO in government,” said Stefanou.
Another party leader who has consistently called for greater consultations with the government on the national issue is opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades.
Speaking after a meeting with Christofias yesterday, Anastassiades said the meeting took place so he would “be in a position to present the positions of our side in the best possible way” in tomorrow’s European People’s Party (EPP) summit in Brussels. The EPP member will have the chance to meet many EU heads of state and government at the summit where the direct trade regulation will likely come up.
“Whatever reservations we have on the proposals tabled (at the talks), I have to stress, they do not and cannot be the reason for taking abroad our internal disagreements. Cyprus does not have the luxury of sending conflicting messages to our counterparts,” he said.
Anastassiades highlighted the “urgent need to achieve the greatest possible agreement among political forces” at this moment, noting DISY is ready and willing to contribute to this aim. He added however, that the president’s three-tier proposal was not enough to achieve this unity.
One party source said the discussion was held in a good climate but was restricted mainly to the Brussels trip. He ruled out speculation that Christofias was seeking an alliance with Anastassiades ahead of the National Council meeting where disagreement is rife, pointing instead to the fanfare over the president’s meeting with Garoyian.
Meanwhile, AKEL leader Andros Kyprianou said yesterday that he was sure AKEL would find itself on the same path with former partner EDEK again. “Many things unite us and we have no doubt that the moment will come when we will cooperate once again,” he said.
