Christofias: I am a child of AKEL and proud of it

PRESIDENT DEMETRIS Christofias yesterday responded to critics, insisting he was “a child of AKEL” who would not deny his background and simply stay at home during the election period.

Speaking during his televised press conference on his handling of the Cyprus problem, the president was asked to comment on recent criticism that he is acting as a party leader rather than president of the country.

“What do some people want, to deny myself? I am a child of AKEL. This has to be understood. It is my democratic right and a great honour and issue of pride for me that I have been raised by such a party which only contributed good to the country,” he said, adding that the ruling communist party “defended democracy (and) the country’s independence”.

He highlighted that the criticism against him was directed at a speech made during a memorial for two AKEL members who were “hero martyrs of Greco-Turkish friendship”.

Christofias reiterated that he was proud to be a member of AKEL, “And this is in no way contrary to the position of the president of the Republic.”

Backing his point, he noted that former presidents Glafcos Clerides and the late Tassos Papadopoulos never denied their links to the parties they came from.

Christofias added, he would not lock himself at home “because some want it”.

Asked whether he planned on running again in the 2013 presidential elections, he replied: “I’m not worried about whether I will be a candidate. For me, the presidency was not and is not a life goal.”

He added: “I have taken on this risk. I began this process and adventure with one goal in mind, to solve the Cyprus problem and reunite our country. I have said before, if we are close to a solution, or if a solution is signed during my presidency, I will think very hard about whether to step down.”

Christofias also had a word of advice for anyone who replaced him should a solution be signed. He warned that whoever his replacement would be, they had the responsibility to implement a solution, “which won’t be one for celebrations”.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.