THE spat between government and opposition DISY over the property issue continued yesterday, with spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides accusing Nicos Anastassiades of avoiding to reply the questions put to him.
The row started when the DISY chief told a radio show that the least Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat could do would be to protect from exploitation the third of Greek Cypriot properties earmarked for return under the Annan plan.
“We have repeatedly said that if he truly respects the solution based on the Annan plan he should at least for the time being, until a solution is reached, apply it unilaterally, in other words protect one third of Greek Cypriot properties,” Anastassiades said.
As expected, his comments drew a barrage of criticism from government parties.
Chrysostomides yesterday fed the spat, suggesting that Anastassiades had failed to answer whether he accepted the illegal exploitation of two-thirds of Greek Cypriot property.
“I am sure that public opinion does not agree with his positions,” Chrysostomides said.
“Apart from that, he made statements, which do not honour the political standards and political dialogue in Cyprus,” the spokesman said.
Chrysostomides once again asked Anastassiades to clarify what he meant by suggesting to Talat to exploit the two-thirds of Greek Cypriot properties in order to show his respect for the Annan plan.
“It is a position that cannot stand, either politically or from a logical point of view,” the spokesman said.
“If it seems that we accept some provisions of the Annan plan, why then don’t we accept the others; i.e. those in relation with current users, the value of improvements etc, thus limiting the issue of properties to an issue of compensation,” he added.
Speaking after a meeting with President Tassos Papadopoulos, Anastassiades said he would not enter a discussion with the government spokesman.
“I talked and talk with the President of the Republic.
“I think what was exchanged is satisfactory enough to restore order,” Anastassiades said.
The opposition chief revealed that they also discussed his request for the property issue to be tabled before the National Council.
