Cyprus-Forum.com

[bizzybabe]

I don't have TV here so don't have access to the news. But i heard the president was supposed to make a statement to the nation at 1pm? Can't find any reports about it?

Did it happen?

[Hermes]

President Demetris Christofias on Thursday promised a full inquiry into a blast that killed a dozen people and plunged Cyprus into an energy crisis. In a national address, Christofias said his government shared the "disappointment, bitterness and even anger" of the people, and said the inquiry would serve justice.

"We will ... await the results of the inquiry and then, accordingly, we will address the people again," Christofias said.

Christofias has faced a barrage of criticism after confiscated Iranian munitions exploded at a military base on July 11, killing 12 people and knocking out the island's largest power plant. Thousands marched through the capital Nicosia on Tuesday, with some calling for him to resign.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=229366

[bizzybabe]

thanks hermes.

But was that it? thats all from the letter writing president?

"wait until we're managed to assign blame to someone!"

[Hermes]

thanks hermes.

But was that it? thats all from the letter writing president?

"wait until we're managed to assign blame to someone!"

From Politis online (via GoogleTranslate):

Not even an apology ....

The assurance that it will apportion blame, whoever they are weighing on the explosion at the Naval Base "Evangelos Florakis" in Marie and killing 13 people, by the President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, in the speech, addressed to the Cypriot people. However, the proclamation of President Christofias absent apology for what happened on the tragic last Monday, which, as all shows were the results of government decisions and blunders.

The President announced the decision of the Cabinet to lead the legal Polys Polyviou the exploratory committee for the events of 11 July. He also said that they have been instructed police to investigate, under the supervision of the Attorney General, the case for the identification and return of criminal responsibility. As President Christofias said "this will restore confidence in the institutions and the law."

"The responsibility should if assigned through the law and the constitution", said President Christofias, adding that "right-wing groups can not exploit the suffering of the relatives of the victims and attempting to burn the presidential." According to Demetris Christofias, "whoever is the President of the Republic, Presidential Palace can not be objective." Furthermore, referring to what happened Tuesday night outside the Presidential, the President spoke of scenes that reminded the events of 1974.

The President did not intend to comment further on the announcement, which has today. Leaving the Presidential and invited to clarify references to the announcement, said the messages should not need clarification. "This is the announcement," said President of the Republic and withdrew.

http://www.politis-news.com/

[bizzybabe]

"referring to what happened Tuesday night outside the Presidential, the President spoke of scenes that reminded the events of 1974."

hes comparing a nations justifiable anger to a hostile invasion from a foreign nation?

What an insult to his fellow Cypriots!

[Hermes]

Full statement:

Chairman: We apportion blame as high as they go

Nicosia: The responsibilities of the tragedy at the Naval Base "Evangelos Florakis" that killed 13 people around us will touch all those responsible, no matter how high they are. Assurance was given by the President of the Republic, Demetris Christofias, the TV's noon announcement to the people of Cyprus.

He expressed condolences and sympathy to the families of victims, stressing that it understands the shock of the Cypriot people for the tragedy that struck our homeland. He said that the pain is great for everyone, but the greater the pain and sorrow to the families and relatives of people who heroically gave their lives on duty hours.

President Christofias called for calm, sobriety and teamwork to create the conditions for restoring public confidence in institutions, who have compromised. spoke about the need teamwork from everyone for the support of institutions and not "undermining and annulled."

Furthermore, said it decided the appointment of the eminent legal Polly Polyviou head single independent committee to investigate the events surrounding the deadly explosion at the Naval Base in Mari.

He stressed that the responsibility of all is the support of institutions and laws. He said that responsibilities should be allocated through the procedures provided in the constitution and laws, saying that "there can be portrayed himself to a judge to judge and condemn" very poor fashion, and the fact that "extreme right-wing nationalist groups exploited the suffering and marred events at the Presidential. "

However, the President of the Republic with the announcement, he gave answers to big questions relating to the tragic event of the explosion that led to the deaths of 13 permanent staff and conscripts of the National Guard and members of the Fire Service. Especially the question whether he knew about the storage of explosives under the weight of even the revelation that many were those who knew about the hazards of the cargo of 98 containers were kept in the Naval Base "Evangelos Florakis."

The full text of the Millennium Declaration

Fellow countrymen,

I am writing to you in very difficult times. Even buried our children, children of Cyprus, the tragedy of the devastating explosion at a naval base in Mari. Big pain for us all.

Bigger, however, is the pain and suffering of families and relatives of people who heroically gave their lives in duty hours. From the depths of our hearts to express our condolences and heartfelt sympathy to us, although we know that nothing can bring back their loved ones.

Require all our full investigation of the circumstances, causes and reasons that eventually caused the great tragedy. The requirement of all is to identify and assign responsibilities, whatever they incurred from the lowest to the highest level. Responsibilities, I assure you, will be delivered and taken!

Today, the Cabinet agreed the appointment of distinguished legal Polyviou Mr. Polly as a single commission of inquiry. The responsibility will be to investigate quickly and effectively each and every aspect and all the events for the tragedy.

Furthermore, as is already known, assigned to the Police under the direct supervision of the Attorney General to investigate for any potential criminal liability there.

Our decision, the full investigation and detection of tragedy and accountability.

This will pave the way to restore the confidence of citizens towards the state and its institutions, which have been compromised by the tragic events in Marie.

It is our obligation to work collectively to restore confidence in the institutions and the political system. This can be done first and foremost with the support of institutions and laws, not by undermining and canceled.

Responsibilities must be assigned through the procedures laid down by the Constitution and Laws. There can be portrayed himself in court, to judge and condemn. Nor can extreme right-wing nationalist groups to exploit human suffering and bitterness of people to riot, attempting to burn and blacken Presidential peaceful demonstrations, which are democratic right of citizens, who respect and defend.

Whatever the President may not be a Presidential goal and caused episodes mentioning traumatic for the place where the seasons were depicted in the destroyed by the junta and EOKA B 'President and the Turkish invasion and occupation that followed. The existence of normality is a collective responsibility.

Fellow countrymen,

Before us we have a pressing duty to tackle the problems caused by the tragedy. All services of the state are working hard to address the problems. Problems that affect the already difficult economic situation. We are working hard to address the impact on local economy.

We are actively working to exploit every opportunity and any assistance offered to our country. We have already contacted the European Union asking for assistance in the context of community solidarity. Various friendly countries have offered to help Cyprus. We thank them warmly.

The State authorities are fully mobilized to repair the damage suffered homes, estates and property of our citizens.

Fellow countrymen,

We share and understand the frustration, bitterness and even anger of citizens. But we have to be calm and sober, to respect the procedures and to look ahead. With unity and collective effort. Before us we have the continuation of negotiations on Cyprus, which after the meeting in Geneva with UN Secretary General, intensified.

Ahead of us we have the EU Presidency on the success of which should continue to prepare.
The reference to negotiations in Cyprus and the European presidency, did not constitute an excuse for the situation created and the responsibilities there. We will continue our efforts on these issues but in all other areas of government, pending the outcome of the investigation and then again as you reach out to people.

Once again I express the sincere and wholehearted my condolences to the families of our children unjustly shed.

I urge all united to face the situation which has been created.

* Leaving the Presidential and invited to clarify references to the announcement, said the messages should not need clarification.

"This is the announcement," said President of the Republic and withdrew.

http://www.phileleftheros.com/

[Milo]

Does the President take questions from the press at all, after giving his speeches?

Or is,nt that allowed?

You know what I mean, real questions like "How can a govt investigate itself Mr President?

[bizzybabe]

Milo, dev katalaveis; Your not supposed to ask questions, your supposed to sit tight like a good little lemming and wait until the president and his pals have thought up an excuse that gets them all off the hook. Then your supposed to applaud the president and declare that he is the best ever and then re-elect him in 2012! All the while condemning whatever innocent party hes decided to blame.