The opposition stands against the President’s choices
Party leaders unconvinced by Anastasiades proposal (PICTURES)
Most of the island’s party leaders appeared unconvinced after Monday’s National Council briefing during which President Nicos Anastasiades outlined his proposal to Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci for a new methodology to be followed in the Cyprus talks.
During Monday’s session – which had gotten underway at 10am and finished at around 12,30pm, he explained to the party leaders how his proposal concerns a return to Geneva for peace talks in a way that would create the preconditions for a political settlement. Emphasis was placed on the issues of security, guarantees, and property.
Anastasiades will make a televised address to the nation at 8pm on Monday to outline his proposal. The address will be made live on CyBC 1.
Meanwhile, former Cyprus president Demetris Christofias walked out of the briefing in protest over what he said was Anastasiades’ “refusal to return my calls” when he had attempted to contact him over the recent sacking of deputy police chief Andreas Kyriakou.
Ruling party Disy chief Averof Neophytou described Anastasiades’ proposal as “productive” adding that he gave the leaders “a detailed analyses of what his proposal will be”.
“We will support the President all the way because we feel that there have been some positive outcomes. Much, however, still depends on Ankara.”
Opposition party Akel head Andros Kyprianou, meanwhile, was less optimistic telling reporters that he was concerned that Anastasiades “was taking a grave risk” with his policy on the talks. Kyprianou also said that it was imperative that Turkey too “be put to the test to see if they generally seek a solution to the Cyprus problem”.
He said that failure to put the right kind of pressure on Turkey could see the Greek Cypriot side blamed for the potential “collapse of the talks” and urged Anastasiades to seek further consultations with the UN.
One of Anastasiades’ staunchest rivals to the peace process is Diko boss and 2018 presidential candidate Nicolas Papadopoulos who described Anastasiades’ proposal of exposing “flaws and weaknesses” before accusing the President of “lacking a clear strategy on the on-going peace talks”.
He also accused Anastasiades of failing to give a plausible explanation on his proposal.
Edek head Marinos Sizopoulos and Citizen’s Alliance George Lillikas – who is also a presidential candidate – said the talks were heading into “a dead end” and there was similar lack of belief from the Green Party and Solidarity Movement.
In recent statements, Anastasiades said that he had the opportunity during his most recent meeting with Akinci to submit a structured and specific proposal which, if accepted, could create the prospects for a solution, irrespective of when presidential elections take place.
Government Spokesperson Nikos Christodoulides said that after the briefing of the political parties, the President would make “very specific” public statements with regard to the content, the rationale and the purpose of the President`s proposal and the facts it creates.
According to Christodoulides, “the proposal of the President of the Republic, if it gets a positive response, may lead to the desired outcome of a solution to the Cyprus problem,” noting that “this is time for the truth if we really want a solution”.
The meeting comes a day after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in an exclusive interview with Phileleftheros newspaper said Ankara would remain immovable from its position on guarantees and Turkish troops staying on in a post-solution Cyprus.
