Anastasiades says has no intention of dismissing negotiating team member

President Nicos Anastasiades on Monday said he had no intention of dismissing negotiating team member Tassos Tzionis after he criticised the way the government was handling the Cyprus problem.

A former permanent secretary of the foreign ministry, in an interview with Phileleftheros last week Tzionis criticised the notion of a decentralised federation, promoted by Anastasiades and ruling Disy. The former ambassador had said that decentralised federation, when adequately signified, will probably mean less powers in the central government and more to the constituent states.

“If with ‘political equality’ the Turkish Cypriots will be allowed to block decision-making in the few but very important responsibilities for the existence of the state, then the federation will be at the mercy of the Turkish side and in the end the state will be paralysed,” Tzionis said. He said that “this political equality will quickly lead to the sovereign equality demanded by the Turkish side.”

He also said there would be no problem if the calls for political equality referred to the political equality of Security Council resolution 716, which the Greek Cypriot side accepted in 1991.

On Monday Anastasiades said he had no intention of dismissing Tzionis over his comments.

“I am interested in differences, that is why in the negotiating team participate, not only people from the same school of thought but also those who can, through their reflection, help us to face any risk,” he said.

“I chose him because I know of his ideas, perceptions, and I believe that through thinking about food for thought gives a better opportunity of dealing with any problems we may encounter,” he added.

Asked on whether he agreed with Tzionis’ positions, Anastasiades said he embraced his own ideas about the five-party summit and aims to contribute to it in the same way he did at the Crans-Montana “so that progress is made.”

He said his only wish was for Turkey to show true goodwill to change its orientations and positions, “so that we can find that common ground that will lead us to a sustainable, functional solution.”

On the issue of political equality, Anastasiades said the Greek Cypriot side has already accepted it since 1991. “I have repeated it in Crans-Montana, as set out in Security Council resolution 716 of 1991, and therefore there is no question of anyone calling me to accept something I have already accepted.”

Tzionis had also dismissed as “wishful thinking” the belief by some within the Greek Cypriot side that if the two sides each insisted on their own divergent positions on the way forward at next month’s informal five-party summit the UN secretary-general would be forced to intervene to help them move towards the agreement, guided by UN resolutions and what has been agreed on in previous negotiations. He added that those who assume the task of helping resolve an international problem tend to exert pressure on the parties to make  concessions to achieve an agreement.

“In the history of the Cyprus problem, we painfully know which side is constantly making concessions and which is constantly advancing through negotiations,” he added. “Those who continue to believe that in real life the UN and the various mediators represent the forces of justice and ethics are mistaken.”

Tzionis’ statements raised the ire of the leaders of Disy and main opposition Akel.  Disy’s Averof Neophytou said last week he raised the issue at the last National Council. According to reports, Akel leader Andros Kyprianou too raised the matter pointing out that these  statements were made by a member of the negotiating team.