As election looms, President pronounces Cyprus stable, if not unified

NICOSIA – With polls showing he’s likely unbeatable, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades used his New Year’s message to claim the country has been stable under his leadership although he failed to bring unity with Turkish-Cypriots.

Anastasiades also noted drilling for oil and gas offshore by international companies that has drawn interest from other countries as Turkey demanded a share of any revenues and is sending its own research vessels and warships into the waters.

The President said 2017 was “a year of stability and development” and a year during which, through cooperation and joint efforts, “we were able to lay down even more stable foundations for the creation of the Cyprus we all wish for,” despite failed talks with Turkish-Cypriot President Mustafa Akinci, dashing hopes the country could come together almost 44 years after an unlawful Turkish invasion occupied the northern third of the island.

“Being fully aware of the realities, problems and challenges we shall have to face, I have no doubt that each and every one of us reasonably feel that hope is rising in our country,” Anastasiades said, the Cyprus Mail reported, as he used the vague platitudes politicians present for themselves.

“Unfortunately, the Turkish stance in the final stage of the effort did not allow the realization of our expectations,” he said, referring to the collapse of the negotiations in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana last July where Turkey said it would never remove its army and demanded the right to militarily intervene.

“Despite the disappointment caused yet again due to Turkey’s intransigence, our unnegotiable aim remains a solution which actually reunites our country transforming it into a modern, European and absolutely independent state corresponding to the expectations of its citizens,” Anastasiades said.

Nine candidates in the race for election 

With a plug for his re-election campaign, Anastasiades added: “What we need more than anything is to continue with the realisation of the plans which have led to tangible results.”

“In order to achieve our goals and face the challenges ahead, it is more than ever necessary to have cooperation and consent, with absolute respect to any different approaches and views. Acknowledging the sincere interest of all political forces in the good of our country, I am optimistic that after the presidential elections a productive period shall follow for the benefit of our people as a whole,” the British newspaper The Guardian reported.

Nine candidates are in the race for election with a first round set for Jan. 28, almost five years after he won election and promptly reneged on promises not to allow bank account confiscations and then doing so to keep banks stable after managers brought them to the edge of ruin with bad loans to failed Greek businesses and big holdings in Greek bonds that were devalued 74 percent.

No bank manager has been held accountable as he promised and the move saw the Laiki Bank fail and many Cypriots lose a big chunk of their life savings they said were essentially stolen on his orders and given to the banks.

Polls show it’s unclear whether he could win a majority in the first round and that he will have to face a challenger in what would be the deciding vote on Feb. 4.

Nikolas Papadopoulos, who heads the center-right DIKO and Stavros Malas, an independent fielded by the Communist party AKEL are behind Anastasiades in the surveys.

Papadopoulos is the son of the late former president Tassos Papadopoulos and, like his father, is opposed to the reunification. Under his father, Cypriots in 2004 rejected a plan to bring unity that was backed by Turkish-Cypriots.

Talking to supporters, Papadopoulos said if he wins that he would use his five years in office to “end failed policies and … restore dignity back to our people”.

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Source: thenationalherald.com