Criticism answered

Politis says that they government is trying to play it down over the criticism it has been getting as regards the composition of the technical committees and working groups as being made up mainly of supporters of the Annan plan. Governenment Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that harking back to the past does not help the effort to break the deadlock in the Cyprus problem. “Now that we have entered a new period for the Cyprus problem and are embarking on a new effort for a solution, we have left the past behind”, he said. He added, however, that the work that will be done will be on the basis of the set positions of the G/C side as laid out by President Christofias.

The paper says that the criticism came mainly from Diko, Edek, Evroko and the Greens, parties that had all supported Tassos Papadopoulos. Marios Garoyan, House President and leader of Diko, said that certain people shouldn’t have been chosen, not because they aren’t entitled to be or aren’t sufficiently qualified, but because they had in the past been political appointees and that sends wrong messages, especially as regards the stand they took during and after the referendum. Edek’s vice president Marinos Sizopoulos said “certain people chosen may not perhaps possess the basic resistance needed in order to negotiate and achieve a better result”. The President of Evroko, Nicos Koutsou said that the people chosen were clearly involved in the “YES” platform and had clear views on the Annan plan, while the President of the Greens, George Perdikis said anyone can see that there are people there with clear political leanings”. Disy vice president, Averof Neofytou said his party does not wish to judge the choice of people but that what matters is the work that is produced and that they would judge on the outcome. Akel said the selection was balanced with people experienced in their subject and that in the final analysis they will all be working under the guidance of President Christofias. Mr Iacovou echoed this statement by saying that the committees would all be working directly under his guidance and that noone could express a personal opinion. He said the subject matter and guidelines had been given at a meeting held on Saturday. Meetings will start on Tuesday. Iacovou added that their role was purely preparatory and they would not be conducting negotiations. “Things are very well organised and under control”, he said.

Moreover, the T/C daily Volkan publishes all the names of the people on the technical committees and working groups and says that most of them supported the Annan plan and were trained by foreign powers at bicommunal seminars.

Politis says that the rejectionist camp by criticising the composition of the committees and working groups is trying to bring back the separation of the population into the “YESes” and NOs of the referendum days, and is thereby trying to deprive the former of the right to take an active part in the political life of this country. They are throwing doubt on a quarter of the population which includes highly educated and experienced people. What bothers these sad piners of divisiveness, is not so much the people chosen but the possibility that things may well lead to a solution. Because they can’t accept that things were achieved in less than a month that they didn’t manage to achieve in almost two years ie the implementation of the 8 July agreement. What they are called upon to answer today without any digressions is: sirs, do you or don’t you want a solution?

An editorial in Alithia refers to editorials in Phileleftheros that the Cyprus problem cannot stand another deadlock, that another deadlock would be fatal. The writer says the Cyprus problem has withstook years of deadlock, why not a few more? Phileleftheros says that the reason is becaue another deadlock will make the current situation a de facto solution. Alithia recalls Tassos Papadopoulos’ position that we shouldn’t worry about a deadlock because that would be the next best solution for all of us and also recalls previous articles by Phileleftheros which said that the G/C have proved that they can survive and prosper without a solution. So why are they worried now? Have they perhaps reached that conclusion as a result of the last four years of deadlock and the negative developments that accompanied them?

An article in Alithia refers to the various fears expressed that the Annan plan is coming back. The writer quotes Diko member Antigoni Papadopoulou as expressing it best when she said “The Annan plan is floating in the air along with the dust from Africa” (Cyprus has been suffering under a dust cloud). But who said the Annan plan is coming back? We’ve heard noone say any such thing. The only ones who are concerned are Garoyan, Antigone and the Simerini writers. Someone must tell them not to worry it isn’t coming back. And in any case what are they really worried about? Are they afraid that if the satanic plan does come back, this time we will accept it?