In the middle of last week it was reported that during the very brief conversation they had, a few days earlier, in Dubai, the Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to his invitation to Nikos Christodoulidis to go to Ankara. Taking into account Erdogan's position towards the Republic of Cyprus (the Turkish position about the deceased is known) the Cypriot side he did not give much weight to the whole matter, as it was considered very unlikely that something like that would happen.
However, this information began to circulate in the diplomatic corridors, especially after the recent one Erdoğan's visit to Athens. In Nicosia, the rulers were yesterday looking to find out if the Turkish President made a relevant reference, regarding Christodoulides' provocation in Ankara, during his meeting with Kyriakos Mitsotakis. In yesterday's publication (Alithia newspaper) there was a reference to information from Greek sources. Because if the issue really came up in the Mitsotakis-Erdogan meeting, then it took on another dimension, from the initial simple reference to Dubai.
The "invitation" by Erdogan to Christodoulidis to visit Ankara caused a political uproar. Initially, the government wanted to keep the issue low-key, but then some general statements were made. While, at the same time, President Christodoulidis appeared annoyed by Annita Dimitriou's letter requesting the convening of the National Council.
The government side refused to confirm what is mentioned in the relevant publication, with the obvious intention of keeping the matter as low as possible. Indicative of the fact that at Lofos they did not want to open the issue of "Erdogan's challenge" was also seen from their positions, as to whether President Christodoulidis would respond positively or negatively to a similar challenge from the Turkish President, the position of the Presidency was that "they cannot to answer hypothetical questions".
Then the deputy government representative, Yannis Antoniou, speaking on the OMEGA channel, noted the following: "The President of the Republic, as the Government Spokesman had also stated, had a few minutes' conversation with the President of Turkey on the sidelines of the Climate Summit in Dubai. We can't say too many things. If the president of Turkey sends an invitation to the President of the Republic to go to Turkey, we have a drastic change in Turkish policy. I think we are not at that point at the moment. There was a discussion, I don't want to expand on this issue».
With this position (which was subsequently repeated in all the televised interventions of the deputy government representative) the Presidency wanted to demonstrate that if there was a challenge from the Turkish government to the PtD to go to Ankara, this would mean a total reversal of Turkey's policy towards the Republic of Cyprus so far. Wanting at the same time to demonstrate how difficult or improbable it is for such an invitation from Erdoğan to Christodoulidis. Hoping that everyone would get the message so they wouldn't put too much emphasis on the relevant issue.
However, then came Annita Dimitriou's statement in which she lied to the government because the political leadership is not informed. With the government side wondering if the president of DISY believes that Erdogan invited Christodoulidis. To follow a paper war between the President and Pindaros with the debate expanding as to the need to convene the National Council. Where it seems that President Christodoulidis, before and before the appointment and the first visit of the new UN envoy to Cyprus, has no intention of calling the political leadership for consultations.
The president of the Democratic Alarm noted that the position has been repeatedly expressed that the National Council should convene at regular intervals. It is noted that a similar request was made a few days ago by the general secretary of AKEL. Annita Dimitriou indicated how the Cyprus issue is not only about the government but collectively the political leadership. "We reiterate our request once again, considering the government's alternative proposal that the political leaders communicate with the President by phone to be informed about the current developments as inappropriate," he added.
Also, he said, "for such serious matters, political leaders and institutions cannot be informed by the Mass Media, such as the information about the invitation of the Turkish President to the President of the Republic to visit Ankara or even that there is no update". Exactly, added Mrs. Dimitriou, the National Council is the body in which correct and timely information can be provided, the exchange of views and assessments, as well as the collective handling of issues concerning our national problem.
Despite the pressure of the leaders of the two largest parties "the President of the Republic convenes the National Council when and whenever the conditions and developments are such that it is judged that its meeting is justified", responded the government representative, Konstantinos Letympiotis. He reminded that until today, since the day the Government took office, the National Council has already been convened four times "where the political leadership received thorough and detailed information both from the President of the Republic himself and from the National Security Advisor and Commander of the KYP , in the cases deemed necessary". And he ended by declaring that "when the developments and the facts differ in relation to the last National Council, the President of the Republic will immediately and on time convene a meeting of the House".
Pindarou's reaction was immediate with Onoufrios Koullas noting that it is obvious that there is a different perception between the government and political forces as to the concept of collectivity. The DISY press representative stated that the role of the National Council cannot be limited to information "when developments and facts change". He also stated that "in the ES, there must be a timely assessment of the developments under formation, there should be an exchange of opinions between all members and collective manipulations. Institutional placements cannot be replaced by personal telephone communications."
Article writer Andreas Pimbisiis
photo AI Generated, Image license by freepik.com
