UNCERTAINTY REIGNS over the future of the government coalition with the domestic political front showing signs of disarray in the wake of the UN Secretary-General’s visit and the conclusion of the intensified negotiations.
Following President Demetris Christofias’ briefing of the National Council on Friday, rumblings are once again being heard among government partners DIKO and EDEK regarding their potential departure from the coalition. Despite informing party leaders of the areas where convergence had been found, the president was only able to win the backing of his own party AKEL regarding his handling of the talks, with even pro-solution DISY keeping a distance.
Both DIKO and EDEK will hold key meetings this week, with EDEK’s central committee convening tomorrow and DIKO’s executive office holding discussions on Tuesday, where the question of abandoning ship will be posed.
The constant talk of withdrawing from government can be seen as a sustained effort to put pressure on Christofias’ positions in the talks, said former president Georgios Vassiliou.
“It’s not usual in a democratic society to participate in a coalition and to keep repeating publicly that they want to withdraw from government. Those kinds of statements have only one objective, to exercise pressure on the president to modify his stance on the negotiations,” said Vassiliou.
EDEK vice-president Sofoclis Sofocleous said yesterday that talk of leaving the government was justified. “It is to be expected, and I would say normal, since EDEK has political differences with the president’s positions and decisions on the Cyprus problem. I don’t think this is something new. The question is whether now is the time for quitting the government. The central committee will answer that.”
EDEK spokesman Demetris Papadakis spoke of the need for a new strategy in the talks. He criticised Christofias for not withdrawing his proposal for a rotating presidency when he had the chance. Asked about leaving government, he said the main factor influencing his party’s support of the president was the national issue, implying that it was the existence or not of this support which would determine EDEK’s participation in government.
DIKO spokesman Fotis Fotiou yesterday confirmed that three members of the executive office raised the issue of leaving the coalition on Friday: Andreas Angelides, Nicolas Papadopoulos and Kyriacos Kenevezos. The three have expressed their opposition to Christofias’ proposals in the talks on a rotating presidency, allowing 50,000 settlers to stay, weighted voting, and problem-solving mechanisms.
Angelides even warned yesterday that the future of the Republic of Cyprus was at risk. “What’s important now is not whether we will stay in government or not, but how we can save the Republic of Cyprus.”
Fotiou noted that if a decision was taken to leave the government on Tuesday, then it would be raised at the central committee meeting the following week. However, he said: “As things stand, I don’t see it happening, that is for the majority of the executive office to decide to leave the government, but you can’t prejudge these things.”
DIKO member and Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou had a different view: “If we felt that there was a policy which was putting the Republic at risk, we should have walked out a long time ago, and I would not have stayed in government either.”
Opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades also failed to talk up the talks and the announcement of “significant progress”.
While some steps forward have been taken, differences remain, he said, noting that it has taken 18 months to discuss governance, while key issues like property, territory, security, Turkish troops and settlers have yet to be discussed. He noted that the president had failed to get the consensus of members of the National Council, resulting in disagreement over his handling of the talks and their content.
Some observers believe DISY is making a tactical move in an effort to pass on the message to Christofias that their support should not take them for granted.
Meanwhile, EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris yesterday continued the campaign to remove UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer, saying he was undermining the negotiations process. The Australian diplomat faced a barrage of criticism from EDEK, DIKO, EVROKO and the Greens on Friday for his alleged involvement in Ban Ki-moon’s visit to Mehmet Ali Talat’s offices, something which the UN has consistently denied.
Former president Vassiliou said Downer was being used a scapegoat by those who were not happy with the negotiations. “Any attacks on Mr Downer have nothing to do with Mr Downer himself, but are going against the negotiations rather than the person who in no way can be blamed for anything.”
“Downer is simply a coordinator, and enjoys the full trust of the UN in any case,” he added.
