Bananiot wrote:Anastasiades has played a major role in the downfall of Papadopoulos. However, had Christofias not stood as a candidate, Papadopoulos would have won hands down. Anastasiades has shown himself to be a real statesman, perhaps the best in Cyprus. He does not mince his words and he is very honest. He always tells his opinion without a regard for any political cost. He supported the solution in 2004 despite strong inter party opposition. He leads the people rather than be led by the people.
Why you didn't support Kasoulides then??
Kasoulides, Anastasiades and Christofias should work for a compromise solution because we are faced by partition. I will not site the obvious shortcomings of partition but this time I will tell the cynics of another, more important reason, why partition must be avoided at all costs.
I guess you had a different result in mind when you where preparing the above statement. Aparently the biggest losers of this first round of election is not Papadopoulos, but the fanatic "yes" supporters.
Christofias and Papadopoulos will work for a solution, just like they did during the past 4.5 years. That, or substitute Christofias for Kasoulides in the above sentence. As Christofias said in his speech today, a bad solution will bring partition.
I long to live in a free and united Cyprus with my Turkish Cypriot compatriots, friends and brothers, as equal partners. The Cyprus I long for is a multi cultural, multi ethnic country, a bridge of friendship between Greece and Turkey. We should forget the past and look to a happy, bright future, within our united Europe. Papadopoulos constantly spread fear into the soul of people and tried to turn them into phobic and spineless creatures. Those of us that stood against him and his methods were ridiculed and warned, even, that we stood to lose our jobs and dignity, because "he was the elected lord and no one had the right to question him". Thank God this mentality is over now and we can breath the fresh air of change.
Papadopoulos and the great majority of people want a united, peaceful, multi cultural, and multi ethnic country, but they also want a true democracy where all people will be equal without racist discriminations. If people didn't want this, then we wouldn't have elections and democracy today.
How would you feel Bananiot if DIKO which represents about 18% of the people, was given 50% of the power? How would you feel that although most people would have voted for somebody else, Papadopoulous would get to be the president anyways due to some undemocratic system? Do you think you would be able to calmly accept this?
Piratis and Kifeas and the rest of Papadopoulos's supporters. You can criticise the new President for as much as you like. I have no problem with this. Criticism is health and this is what has contributed to the improvement of the human race. I will never tell you to stop expressing your opinion because you are in the minority. I think, this is the time to talk louder, if you felt like it.
We will talk as loud as you talked. Nobody ever silenced you. At the same time though we will do one more thing that you didn't: We will respect the democratic choice of the Cypriot people and we will not try to destroy the whole of Cyprus out of bitterness just because the "stupid" Cypriots didn't do what we the "smart" ones told them to do.
