Pressident Nicos Anastasiades said on Monday that no chance had been lost during reunification talks in Switzerland last summer to solve the Cyprus problem, arguing that the Greek Cypriot side wanted a truly independent state.
The president was responding to criticism from Akel-backed candidate Stavros Malas during an evening TV debate between the five main contenders for the presidency ahead of next week’s elections.
Malas appeared to gain the upper hand in the first part of the televised debate, which dealt with the Cyprus problem.
“Let us not cultivate a climate that we lost a chance, we haven’t lost any chance,” Anastasiades said of the talks in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana last July.
Anastasiades reiterated that it was Turkish intransigence that caused the collapse of the talks, citing statements from Greek Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias.
The Greek Cypriot side wanted a truly independent state without guarantors, the president said.
But Malas cited the UN secretary-general’s statement that a “historic chance has been lost at Crans Montana” and said it was a position shared by many Greek Cypriots who blame Anastasiades of causing the collapse.
Malas also attacked Diko leader Nicolas Papadopopoulos who gave a vague overview of what he planned to do if elected.
Papadopoulos said he would first visit the Greek prime minister and then the UNSG to explain positions, in line with the mandate handed to him by the people, to withdraw existing proposals made by Anastasiades.
“I honestly believe we can convince people abroad,” he said.
However, Malas wondered what Papadopoulos would tell the Greek premier when Alexis Tsipras himself believes that the problem must be resolved soon to avoid worse developments.
“Tell him what? Mr Tsipras said a bizonal, bicommunal federation is the basis of the talks and we need to continue immediately based on this,” Malas said.
The two-hour debate, hosted by state broadcaster CyBC, includes the candidates backed by parliamentary parties: Disy-backed President Nicos Anastasiades; Diko leader Nicolas Papadopoulos who is also supported by Edek, the Greens and the Solidarity Movement; Akel-backed independent Stavros Malas; head of the Citizens’ Alliance Giorgos Lillikas; and Elam leader Christos Christou.
The first part of the debate is focusing on the Cyprus problem, foreign policy and energy issues and the second part on internal governance.
In total, the candidates will answer two questions in each round. Each answer can take up to two minutes, while candidates will have an additional minute to respond to any follow up questions.
At the end of each round, each candidate will be given two minutes to comment on his opponents’ answers.
This is the only debate set to take place before Sunday’s election.
The other four presidential hopefuls are independent candidates Andreas Efstratiou, Haris Aristidou, Christakis Kapiliotis and Michalis Mina.
If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the vote, a run-off election will take place on February 4.
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