THE WAR between Archbishop Chrysostomos II and the government has shown no signs of abating, with the church leader launching another scathing attack against President Demetris Christofias in an interview on Sunday.
Taking a swipe at Christofias proclaiming himself as a “president of solution”, the Archbishop told a local newspaper the term “president of dissolution” would be more apt.
He said Christofias was making unacceptable concessions in negotiations towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, instead of following the correct course.
Chrysostomos made it clear that he planned to take a political stance in the 2013 presidential elections, though he wasn’t too happy about his possible choices.
The Archbishop said he would be “the most miserable human being alive” if it came down to him having to choose between Christofias and the leader of opposition DISY, Nicos Anastassiades.
“I knew from the start that Demetris Christofias was not a president of solution,” said Chrysostomos. “I knew he could turn out to be a president of dissolution, which he has proved with the proposals he tabled in the negotiations.”
A solution, he added, doesn’t depend on the Greek Cypriots.
“It depends on the Turks, and the Turks want two states with a loose connection, and unfortunately, so do the British.”
But Christofias didn’t bear the entire brunt of the Prelate’s wrath. Coalition partner DIKO’s president, Marios Garoyian, was criticised for remaining in the government, as was his party for their on-going internal disputes.
Chrysostomos accused Garoyian of pushing to have DIKO’s deputy president George Kolokasides and MP, Zacharias Koulias, kicked out of the party. The two were voted out of DIKO last week after refusing to back Garoyian’s bid for re-election as House President, which eventually led to EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou’s election.
“I feel the line followed by DIKO is incorrect, which I have relayed to Mr Garoyian in previous meetings,” said Chrysostomos. “(Garoyian) claimed that DIKO remains in the government, so that the President is not left to make concessions.
“And I ask: when has it ever prevented him? What other concessions are left to be made and how will they be prevented by DIKO’s presence in the government?” he wondered.
Government Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou said the government had no plans to enter into any debates with the Archbishop.
“The President refuses to participate in this operation to degenerate the political life, humiliate people who are active in politics and ridicule the Republic of Cyprus in the international area,” said Stefanou.
He added that Christofias would continue to deal with the “true problems of this state and its people” and sent a plea for unity and consent.
