GO JOHNNY GO – imagine Condoleezza Rice or Jack Straw stating a personal opinion that apparently contradicted that of Bush or Blair. There would be an outcry, which would culminate in resignation on the part of the aforementioned ministers. In Cyprus, however, President Papadopoulos comes to the rescue like Thunderbirds when his right hand man Tzionnis makes yet another outrageous statement on the Annan Plan. According to the senior diplomat, who is, let’s face it, part of our negotiating team, the Annan Plan is not even a basis for discussion let alone for reaching a solution. In brief, cold and surrealistically Monty Pythonesque terms, the Plan is dead. Hours later, Papadopoulos says something that contradicts this. The next day Omirou, a partner in the government, leaps with joy as this has been his line from day one. While the next day reluctant TV channels tell us Tzionnis is in fact not expressing the government’s view at all. It’s a confusing picture as to who is saying what and who is not for the Annan Plan these days. Democracy should not be taken lightly by the current President, his close advisers or indeed partners in government. Many people who voted for Papadopoulos were misguided – even fooled into believing that he wanted a solution on the basis of the Annan Plan. Through destructive statements by Tzionnis, Papadopoulos and his government are deliberately putting a solution into the deep freeze. Like I said after the referendum, where to next? We are all still waiting for an answer. One thing is certain: I will never be fooled by Papadopoulos again, even if Bob Marley rose from the grave and told me to cast my vote for him – the vote would go elsewhere!!!
GOLDENMOUTH EVER THE DIPLOMAT – government spokesman the right honourable Cyprus Goldenmouth proclaimed last week that Denktash is an ‘angel’ compared to Talat. And I guess Mr Government Spokesman, it was Denktash who finally decided to begin the process of de-mining ‘no-man’s land’. Or is it that Denktash was such an easy target to lob all the blame at? Let’s face it, like him or not, Talat is in a different league from Denktash – and if he was what Goldenmouth proclaims, why does he come from a totally different ideological background? He was never the leader of any TMT unit and has never fanned the destructive flames of any ‘grey wolves’. He is, however, no angel but come to think of it, nor is Mr Goldenmouth.
PARIS NICOSIA – singing last week at The Rainbow Festival, I felt a degree of both celebration and frustrated sorrow. It was great to see so many people from so many places come together and simply enjoy themselves. But the fact is when the Festival ends most people go back to virtually nothing. As a member of the EU, we lag seriously behind when it comes to diversity and provision for people from black and ethnic communities. There is not one centre (let alone many) which caters for all these people, who some researchers say number over 70,000. In Paris recently many second and third generation people took to the streets to protest having nothing. It reminded me in a surreal way of many similar riots in the UK in the 70s and 80s. The solution, according to racists like Le Pen, is to send these people, who were born in France, back to their ‘home’. But that’s just an excuse for brewing more racial hatred and riots. The solution, or at least part of it, is to give people something, to recognise their right to be equal, integrated citizens. How many more governments in Cyprus will ignore the plight of these people? When will they be given the right to stay? The right to vote? The right to equal social security benefits and much more? Maybe France is different in one crucial sense – there people can protest and voice an opinion. Here most people who are discriminated against on ethnic and racial grounds do not speak out as they fear being deported.
THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE – is a phrase coined last year by President Papadopoulos, who created a Frankensteinish media monster around the alleged issue of UNOPS funding and the referendum. Makarios Droushiotis, journalist and author, released a documentary by the same name last week. The event was extremely well attended even though not one TV station turned up to cover it. Judging by some of the material collected in the documentary I guess some people would never have the face to turn up and be accountable. The most disturbing thing about the documentary is the apparent power of the media, the President and politicians in chorus with him; and the notable powerlessness of the people being wrongly accused of being alleged lackeys of the US Embassy and thus the UN. Plans are currently in process to make the documentary more public so let’s hope this is successful for the sake of proper dialogue, media accountability and freedom of speech.
