THE HOUSE of Representatives adopted a resolution last night accusing UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer of lacking credibility and of hampering the Cyprus negotiations.
It stopped short of calling for the Australian’s replacement however, despite calls by some deputies to do so.
The resolution, passed by unanimous vote, will be addressed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It calls for the “restoration of the Special Adviser’s objectivity and reliability.”
“The House of Representatives deems that the lop-sided and damaging statements and actions of the UN Special Adviser diverge from the provisions of the UN Charter and UN Resolutions on Cyprus,” the resolution read.
Downer run afoul of Greek Cypriot parties after they interpreted a reference he made to Greek Cypriots taking over the EU presidency as ‘Greek Cypriot EU Presidency”. Instead he should have used ‘Cyprus’ or ‘Republic of Cyprus’ Presidency, critics said.
The backlash following the lack of progress at the Greentree talks has focused almost entirely on Downer’s choice of words.
“As such,” the parliamentary resolution went on, Downer’s actions “strip [the UN Special Adviser] of credibility and expose him as well as the UN Secretary General, but more importantly they hamper the entire process of talks aimed at solving the Cyprus problem.”
The parliament said Downer’s comments and actions “constitute an undermining of the Republic of Cyprus as a state” and further that they “are clearly outside his mandate, which is to assist the parties in the conducting of fully-fledged negotiations.”
Socialists EDEK, DIKO, the Greens and the European Party were for Downer’s dismissal, but could not muster enough votes.
Ruling AKEL was against Downer’s removal, arguing that it would be unwise at this juncture in the talks process for the Greek Cypriot side to “open another front, this time with the United Nations.”
Demanding Downer’s replacement would achieve nothing, other than perhaps exposing the Greek Cypriot side as trying to derail the already stalled talks, AKEL said.
At a meeting of the party leaders earlier yesterday before the plenum convened, a text was agreed that merely criticised the Australian diplomat and cast doubts over his suitability.
Subsequently, DISY MP Soteris Sampson introduced an amendment to the original text of the resolution, calling for the denouncement of Downer.
But during the actual voting at the plenum, a number of DISY deputies opposed the amendment, and together with AKEL this proved enough to quash the amendment with the votes pro and con tying at 22-22.
A second amendment, included by the DIKO party, called for Downer’s removal outright, but this too went the same way during the voting.
Still, the debate at parliament saw some hard-hitting comments from politicians taking pot shots at the UN-appointed diplomat.
European Party leader Demetris Syllouris suggested that “diplomats like Alexander Downer should be treated like enemies of Cyprus.”
Greens deputy George Perdikis exclaimed: “Mr. Downer, go home. You are incompetent and dangerous!”
And independent MP Zacharias Koulias said of Downer: “He operates as if he is an extension of the occupation and an ambassador for the Turks.”
Earlier in the day, the government indicated that it did not wish the Downer issue to get out of hand.
Speaking after a meeting of the National Council, government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou told newsmen: “The President met with the UN Special Adviser yesterday. He has said all that he has to say on the matter.”
It was the first meeting of the advisory body during which President Christofias briefed political leaders of the outcome of the Greentree II talks.
In the wake of the talks, Christofias has taken flak for his handling of reunification negotiations. He has also faced accusations of keeping the opposition completely in the dark, following reports that an outline of a Cyprus settlement has been submitted to the UN.
The National Council will be reconvening on February 15 and 17 again to discuss Greentree and to review developments in the Cyprus problem overall.
During yesterday’s session, DISY chief Nicos Anastassiades put forward his proposal that a person other than the President should represent the Greek Cypriot side as negotiator at the peace talks.
Anastassiades said this person would be answerable to both the President of the Republic as well as to Council of Party Leaders and to the National Council.
Asked by reporters about Christofias’ response, Anastassiades said: “I don’t think his position converges with our own.”
The purported rationale behind Anastassiades’ proposal is the need for collective action in the Cyprus negotiations.
