THE three main contenders for the presidential elections in February 17 yesterday took on the Cyprus problem for the second televised live debate.
The scene was set even before the debate started. All three candidates arrived making statements on the 2004 Annan plan and referendum on the proposed solution, overwhelmingly rejected by Greek Cypriots and supported by Turkish Cypriots.
Wearing a purple tie and accompanied by AKEL brass, Stavros Malas arrived first at about 8.50pm with CyBC interrupting the sports section of the news. “I’m the only one with clear views (on the Cyprus problem),” he said.
EDEK-backed Giorgos Lillikas, who arrived almost immediately afterwards wearing a red tie, said that people had a choice to either validate the Annan plan or make a clean break, a dig at the other candidates who supported a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum.
DISY leader Nicos Anastasiades – who must have not checked with Lillikas and also wore a red tie – said he was sad his opponents were living in the past. A faint smile barely broke through as he expressed his rhetorical sadness. Anastasiades is backed by DIKO, which was firmly in the “no” camp in 2004.
The Annan plan was the first question for Anastasiades, but he knew it was coming and reading out from his notes tried to argue that his position had always been one of respect for the wishes of the people.
At a later point in the discussion, Anastasiades became frustrated. “I said this in 2005, 2006 and 2008; not now for political expediencies,” referring to his respect for the results of the referendum on the plan.
Anastasiades was prepared to attack both Malas and Lillikas, having come prepared with examples of how his opponents had also changed tack over the years.
Anastasiades accused Lillikas of being fickle saying his opponent had supported the positions of former UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali, who outlined a bizonal and bicommunal federation during the nineties.
Reading out from his notes on Lillikas’ various statements, Anastasiades furrowed his eyebrows and, hands out, declared: “(Lillikas) has a new idea every day!”
Lillikas was not fazed, and kept returning back to the fact he never endorsed the “catastrophic Annan plan”.
“I’m happy that I was on the side of the Greeks of Cyprus at a crucial time,” he said.
Lillikas’ views have been laid out in his 2008 book on the Cyprus problem, he said and kept challenging his opponents to read it so they could discuss it. Those commenting online as the debate wore on could not resist joking. “Is it sold in kiosks too?” one Twitter user asked ironically.
It was the Annan plan as well for Malas who tried to differentiate himself from Anastasiades and stand as a principled man who stuck to his values, as a member of the public in 2004 rather than a politician.
Though Malas said he would “under no circumstance accept” the Annan plan today, he came the closest to stating his position as it now stands which entails a strong federation with a central government that secures Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone.
Just like on the first debate aired on January 14 on the economy, four journalists – each from TV channels Sigma, Mega, CyBC and Ant1 – posed questions to candidates on a strict time limit, relaxed by 30 seconds to give candidates more time to respond.
The final debate is due on February 11 on the economy and domestic policy.
