Cyprus-Forum.com

[cannedmoose]

AKEL reprimands its ‘yes’ supporters

By Stefanos Evripidou

A NUMBER of prominent AKEL members, including Interior Minister Andreas Christou and EU official and former minister Kikis Kazamias, were dished out formal reprimands warnings yesterday after the left-wing party’s central committee unanimously agreed that members had violated party decisions in the run-up to the referendum on the Annan plan last April.

According to AKEL spokesman Andros Kyprianou, the central committee concluded that violations of party decisions by party members during the referendum period caused confusion to the people and harmed AKEL and its efforts to act in the most proper manner during a difficult phase of the Cyprus problem.

The central committee unanimously imposed penalties of ‘caution with warning’ to Christou (Interior Minister), Kazamias (former Communications Minister and now working for the EU Court of Auditors), deputies Doros Christodoulides, Takis Hadjigeorgiou and Eleni Mavrou.

A simple ‘caution’ was dished out to deputy Stavros Evagorou, Yiannos Lamaris, Andreas Lefas, Vasos Georgiou and Andreas Koukoumas.

In an effort to show unity after the confusing period during the referendum, Kyprianou highlighted that the decision was taken unanimously, bearing in mind the importance of all members sticking to the party charter and principles, especially those belonging to leading organs.

Speaking from Paphos, Christou told reporters: “The decision of the central committee was unanimous and respected by all.”

He did not wish to comment further on the decision.

Christou, considered the most popular minister in government, was an open supporter of the Annan plan in the build-up to the referendum, though he stayed in the government and refrained from sharing the stage with DISY politicians promoting the ‘yes’ campaign.

Kazamias also voiced his support of the plan, which was overwhelmingly rejected by 76 per cent of Greek Cypriots, leading to his eventual resignation as Communications Minister.

The government under President Tassos Papadopoulos came out clearly against the plan, while Papadopoulos himself urged voters to give a resounding ‘no’ to the plan, during an infamous teary-eyed address to the nation.

Government partner AKEL sat on the fence for most of the campaigning pre-referendum until finally announcing its rejection of the plan, citing implementation and security concerns.

The party called on members to vote a “soft” no so as to “cement the yes” at a future date.

(C) Cyprus Mail 15.2.05[/img]

[brother]

The less saıd about the actor tassos and hıs crocodıle tears the better.