Diko final word on property due next week

 

GOVERNMENT partners DIKO will take its final decisions on President Demetris Christofias’ proposals on the Cyprus problem property chapter next week, the party spokesman said yesterday.

His statement followed a lengthy meeting of the party’s executive office, which was briefed on the proposals by presidential commissioner Giorgos Iacovou and Nicos Emiliou, a member of the Greek Cypriot negotiating team.

“We consider property the most important chapter, the thorniest chapter in these negotiations. It affects almost all the aspects of the Cyprus problem,” DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou said after the meeting, which lasted more than four hours. “(Iacovou and Emiliou) answered many questions, and almost all the members of the executive office had their say.”

There were many questions; this is not just any chapter, Fotiou said.

The DIKO spokesman added that Iacovou and Emiliou gave answers to the questions but some issues still needed to be examined and would be discussed by the executive office.

Fotiou said discussion will continue next week so as to take the final decisions concerning the party’s stance on the president’s proposals.

Iacovou who was quizzed for over two hours, said possibly 40 questions had been made.

The commissioner had to leave the meeting earlier.

“The (DIKO) president’s decision was to answer all the questions at the end and I only replied to some of the questions,” Iacovou said.

He said those questions that concerned legal issued were answered by Emiliou.

Asked whether he thought the DIKO members were satisfied, Iacovou said “it is a bit difficult for me despite knowing DIKO quiet well.”

Reports suggested last night that the meeting was not without arguments between those who support Christofias’ tactics and those who disagree, considering the proposals unacceptable.

The most vocal in their criticism of the proposals were Nicolas Papadopoulos, Giorgos Kolokasides and Kyriacos Kenevezos, who have, on many occasions, publicly expressed their disapproval of Christofias’ policy.

 

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