THE LEADER of the opposition yesterday called on the government to start listening to his party before taking crucial decisions on main issues like the Cyprus problem and economy, if they want DISY’s support.

Speaking after a two-hour meeting with President Demetris Christofias yesterday, DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades told reporters that it was up to the government to prove that they really wanted to build national consensus.

“Otherwise, I have made it clear that our support should not be taken for granted if our basic concerns are not taken into consideration,” he said.

The DISY leader said he was briefed by Christofias on the latest developments regarding negotiations on the Cyprus problem but that the substance of the tκte-ΰ-tκte was the prospect of a national consensus between the government and the opposition “on the big and crucial issues concerning the place, primarily the Cyprus problem but also the economy, which has unfortunately become a second national wound”.

He added: “I want to stress that my presence here will have no significance if it is not accompanied by actual implementation of any disposition for co-operation.”

Anastassiades said he explained to the president that the precondition for national consensus on how to go about dealing with the big issues was “the timely, prior and substantial consultation before any decisions are taken”.

“That is how modern European political practice operates, through consultation and convergences to reach the greatest possible unity,” he said.

Since the AKEL-led government took power in February 2008, it has relied on an unlikely and unofficial alliance with ideological archrival DISY for support regarding the push for reunification of the island.

Coalition partner DIKO has consistently and vocally criticised government policy on the national issue, raising objections to various aspects of the negotiations, including the rotating presidency of a federal state, weighted voting and the acceptance of 50,000 settlers to stay on the island. Former coalition partner EDEK cited these issues when walking out of the government partnership last month.

A DISY party source told the Cyprus Mail that the message was clear: “If the government really wants support on the Cyprus problem, economy and in the National Council, they should start listening to us.”

“It’s not an ego thing. We’ve noted that after two years in government, the number of decisions that we disagree on intensely are growing,” he added.

The source referred to the government’s handling of foreign policy and the economy and tactics adopted in the negotiations as points of difference for the opposition party.

He noted that after two years in power, the government had only managed to preliminarily negotiate one chapter in the talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat. And now Talat, who is considered a moderate, may be replaced by hardliner Dervis Eroglu in elections in the north next month.

Asked about DISY’s position on the rotating presidency, he said: “We are not saying outright yes or no, it depends. It is seen as a basic concession to the Turkish Cypriot side. We are willing to contemplate it but need to see what concessions we will get as part of a broader negotiation.

The source said in a nutshell, if the government consulted with DISY before taking key decisions, “this will maximise the chances of us offering our support. The take it or leave it approach very often results in a resounding ‘no’ from us.”

Anastassiades is due to meet with Talat today.