By Aline Davidian
FORMER Diko Deputy Marios Matsakis, who in March declared himself independent of any party, announced yesterday he was rejoining the ranks of the party led by Spyros Kyprianou.
He said that “in these difficult days for the country” he had asked to be, and had been, reinstated as a Diko member of the House of Representatives.
Matsakis attributed his withdrawal as a Diko Deputy last year to Diko’s disagreement with President Glafcos Clerides over the Cyprus problem.
He said he is now convinced that Diko would “never back down over securing a solution” for the island.
Matsakis said he believed Diko would unite the electorate in the face of mounting political confusion.
Also lending his presence to the tumult of pre-presidential election activity yesterday was Diko deputy Tassos Papadopoulos, who said he was backing George Iacovou.
He said his views on the five-year Disy-Diko alliance were well known, and pointed out that his recent absence from the political arena had been because of bad health.
Iacovou is currently supported by left-wing Akel and right-wing Diko in a pre-election alliance.
Meanwhile Government Spokesman Manolis Christofides and Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades launched a counter-attack yesterday on Akel leader Demetris Christofias, who accused President Clerides on Tuesday of being an apologist for Eoka B criminals and of undermining Archbishop Makarios.
Christofias also branded Clerides “a leader who was ready to sell out to the Turks” and who was too old to govern the country.
“Political ethics do not permit insulting conduct toward the president of the republic” Christofides said yesterday, adding: “Nor is the person making the insults excused by the fact that the president is also a presidential candidate.”
He called the Akel chief’s remarks “a black page in political history”; they were a “manipulation” of the truth aimed at confusing the public and to achieve political ends, he said.
He said the reference to Clerides’ age rendering him incapable of governing the country if elected was “unpardonable”.
The government spokesman said the people had noted in Clerides the qualities of a “humane leader with great physical, mental and inner capabilities”.
These qualities had led Clerides to make a great contribution in the Cyprus problem, the island’s European Union bid, and the military alliance with Greece, Christofides said.
He said the candidate backed by Christofias – Iacovou – was “like a wild bull, who, with statements he has made… has endangered and caused destruction” in the areas where Clerides has been most effective.
Christofides also clarified earlier remarks made by Clerides in response to the Akel leader’s statements.
When Clerides said Christofias should be examined by a doctor, he noted, he did not mean a medical examination, nor was he making any reference to the Akel general-secretary’s state of health.
Disy chief Anastassiades said that because Christofias had made his allegations in writing, he could not even excuse himself as having spoken “in the heat of the moment”.
He said Christofias’ statements were made under the wrong impression that he had described George Iacovou as “inexperienced”.
These remarks had in fact been made by Diko leader Spyros Kyprianou and United Democrat and Edek leaders George Vassiliou and Vassos Lyssarides, Anastassiades said.
“I merely repeated statements made by other candidates,” said Anastassiades, adding that retaliatory remarks should be aimed at those who had made the allegations in the first place.
