THE PRESIDENT’S call for unity on the home front during his televised press conference on Friday met a wave of criticism from opposition parties yesterday.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou accused President Demetris Christofias of employing the wrong strategy in the talks. His handling of the Cyprus problem coupled with Turkish intransigence have led the talks to stalemate and deadlock, putting the negotiations on the ‘respirator’, he said.
During his televised address, Christofias called for unity on the home front, saying that internal bickering only served to harm Greek Cypriot interests at the negotiating table.
Regarding those who criticise proposals tabled in the talks, the president said he had the prior backing of the majority in the National Council, save some reservations. Christofias said for their own reasons, some party leaders decided to ignore that support and come out criticising the same proposals they supported earlier.
Omirou yesterday repeated his party’s position on the “unacceptable concessions” given at the negotiating table on a future rotating presidency, weighted voting in a reunified federal state and the offer to allow 50,000 settlers to remain post-solution.
If the president doubts that the large majority of Greek Cypriots are against these “undemocratic proposals” he should hold a referendum, said Omirou.
During Friday’s press conference, Christofias had questioned how wise it would be to withdraw the proposal on a rotating presidency and weighted voting given that Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has already made it clear he does not support them.
On the issue of settlers, the president said the focus shouldn’t be on how many will stay, but how many will leave, estimating that up to 200,000 could go if a solution was found.
Greens party leader Ioanna Panayiotou also called on the president to hold a referendum to secure a mandate from the people to continue efforts to solve the Cyprus problem under a new framework.
She also accused Christofias of “taking very seriously the views of DISY and much less those of the other parties”.
EVROKO deputy Riccos Erotocritou echoed Omirou’s view on the “generous concessions” tabled in the talks by Christofias. He questioned the point of making such offers given that the basis of a solution is still being disputed.
Deputy leader of opposition DISY Averof Neofytou said the president’s analysis of the course of negotiations was correct, but that the people expected to hear after that what strategy he had in mind to provide a remedy to this situation.
“We were all waiting to hear the president’s strategy on how to tackle the above,” said the DISY deputy in reference to Christofias’ claim that Turkey had hardened its stance on Cyprus in tandem with its enhanced role in the region.
Neofytou called once again on Christofias to utilise Europe more and get it involved in the talks.
AKEL spokesman Stavros Evagorou fired back on behalf of the ruling party, saying Omirou’s criticism was groundless, while “in some cases he is trying to mislead by saying half truths”.
On the Greens’ call for a referendum, he said they have no right to challenge the legitimate election of the president by the Cypriot people. “The Greens would be better off looking at how they promote our rights to the Greens at a European level,” said Evagorou.
