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Parties call for Downer’s head on a plate
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Cyprus
UN envoy Alexander Downer is not popular with some of the political parties
GLOOM PREVAILED among party leaders yesterday after being briefed at the National Council meeting on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, with calls even made for the head of UN Special Adviser Alexander Downer.
The Greens and EVROKO called on Downer to step down, while DIKO leader Marios Garoyian accused the Australian diplomat of operating beyond his mandate.
Speaking after the meeting, Garoyian said Ban’s visit to Talat’s ‘presidential palace’ in the north was not by chance but a result of efforts made by his advisers. He further accused Downer of acting beyond his mandate.
Regarding the visit north, he said: “It was not an accidental outcome, it was a conscious effort by some of (Ban’s) associates” who orchestrated the visit after failing to get an interim agreement or recorded convergences.
Garoyian left no room for speculation regarding the identity of at least one of those associates under suspicion, saying: “There is a Downer issue. It’s not the first time he operates beyond his mandate. It’s not the first time he operates in a way which presents a fait accompli or puts the Republic of Cyprus in a difficult position.”
EVROKO leader Demetris Syllouris called for Downer to step down as Special Adviser, saying he was “not an objective official of the UN” and had damaged Cyprus. Greens leader Ioanna Panayiotou concurred.
EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou described Ban’s visit to Talat’s offices as “provocative” and accused Downer of refusing to take responsibility for it.
The UN has consistently denied that Ban was knowingly sent north to meet Talat at his offices. Various sources maintained that the original plan was for the UNSG to meet Talat at his residence next door, adding that the UN team, including Downer, was “totally surprised” to find out just moments before that the meeting would be held at the ‘palace’.
The DIKO leader and House President also argued it was wrong to use the word “progress” when discussing the talks.
“There have been some steps forward. It is very early to talk about progress, it’s misleading and serves the PR games of the Turkish side and the UN which wanted to justify Ban’s visit here at a time when there were no substantial reasons or convergences,” he said.
Even opposition DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades, who has continuously propped up the government when its coalition partners failed to do so over the talks, released a statement saying adjectives such as “remarkable” or “impressive” progress did not match reality. Noting that steps forward had been made in some areas of governance, he added that other important aspects of the Cyprus problem had yet to be negotiated. “And we are just weeks away from elections for a new Turkish Cypriot leader. Unfortunately, this does not permit anyone to talk about optimistic prospects,” he said.
Unsurprisingly, ruling party AKEL Andros Kyprianou endorsed the president’s handling of the intensive talks and Ban’s visit.
Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou, was more upbeat: “There have been steps forward; there have been further convergences which for us constitute progress. From there on, the political parties give their own interpretations and their own positions.”
During yesterday’s meeting, President Demetris Christofias “extensively briefed” the National Council members regarding the outcome of the intensive talks and the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to Cyprus. No joint statement was released as is usual practice, due to one party objecting to it, said Stefanou.
The spokesman reiterated that progress had been made in the talks but not because of a shift in the stance of the Greek Cypriot side towards Turkish positions, as Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat had claimed.
After the party leaders have been briefed on the areas of convergence, “no one can claim that our side has endorsed unacceptable positions that fall within the framework of the Turkish proposals,” he said.
Asked about Downer and the position of a number of political parties that he should be removed from office, Stefanos said the government was not a political party, and did not act like one but handled issues carefully and not in public.
