I am trying to understand the implications of this:
Cyprus defence minister resigns over paramilitary unit
13/09/2006
www.financialmirror.com
Defence Minster Phivos Klokkaris resigned Wednesday after only three months in the job, following allegations that he tried to unravel a paramilitary unit operating within the National Guard.
Klokkaris, a career officer who rose within the ranks of the Greek army from 1968, joined the National Guard in 1993 and was promoted to deputy commander until he retired in April this year.
The government spokesman said Wednesday that Klokkaris handed in his resignation last week citing personal and health reasons.
However, the pro-administration Simerini newspaper reported Wednesday that the minister resigned because President Papadopoulos rejected Klokkaris’ please to dismantle a paramilitary unit within the army.
The newspaper added that the unit enjoyed the support of the coalition partner communist AKEL party and that Klokkaris’ investigations were suppressed on the order of AKEL chief and House of Representatives president Demetris Christofias.
The government first admitted the presence of a paramilitary unit “with ties to a political party” in July, but did not specify which party.
This could further strain the relations between the fragile three-party coalition forces that support Tassos Papadopoulos’ administration. AKEL, the largest of the three parties, wants to impose its own two candidates for the upcoming municipal elections in December, but Papadopoulos’ own Democratic Party (DIKO) is opposed to former Interior Minister Andreas Christou in Limassol and Nicosia MP Eleni Mavrou, claiming the pair supported the Annan Plan in 2004.
Relations within the coalition are already strained after minority partner socialist EDEK has been snubbed by AKEL, dismissing any talks of supporting a socialist mayoral candidate, while DIKO has distanced itself from EDEK that could jeopardize the future of the coalition altogether.
What do people make of this?
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
What do people make of this?
by Svetlana » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:33 am
-
Svetlana - Main Contributor
- Posts: 3094
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 9:30 pm
- Location: Paphos
by Kikapu » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:46 am
It sounds like PapaD has his own secret private army!!...Doesn't that sound a bit like Makarios with his secret private army back in the 1960's. The bigger question is, why would you need to have your own private army.?? We know what Makarios did with his one back in 1963.!!
-
Kikapu - Leading Contributor
- Posts: 18051
- Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:18 pm
by Svetlana » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:03 am
Now more:
Defence Minister stands down amid claims of AKEL army meddling
By Elias Hazou
DEFENCE Minister Fivos Klokkaris announced yesterday he was stepping down for health reasons, feeding speculation over the existence of a faction operating with impunity inside the military.
It has been barely three months since Klokkaris was handed the strategic ministerial portfolio during the government reshuffle in June.
The post, which had previously been held by an EDEK man, was a main bone of contention prior to the reshuffle. At the end of the day, the President appointed military man Klokkaris, a non-party affiliate, to maintain unity among the coalition parties.
Klokkaris had served as National Guard Deputy Chief, becoming the first ever Cypriot Lieutenant-General to occupy the second highest post in the military.
But around late July to early August reports began circulating that a clique of officers inside the National Guard were functioning outside the normal channels and intervening in central matters such as appointments and promotions.
The ring was also said to employ dubious methods, for example placing certain officers under surveillance in a bid to dig up dirt on them and thus put them in a disadvantageous position.
According to the same reports, the clique would spy on officers who visited casinos in the north – a damnable practice by the military’s patriotic standards.
Moreover, rumours spread that the gang – which operated as a shadow staff headquarters within the military – was affiliated to a party.
Communist AKEL was understood to be that party.
The allegations necessitated an investigation by the Attorney-general, and his findings are due some time soon.
To observers, Klokkaris’ resignation corroborated the theory that political circles were meddling in the military. The minister could no longer tolerate working in these conditions, the argument went.
Klokkaris yesterday denied this, saying his decision was based purely on “personal reasons”.
“That is my statement, and I have nothing more to say,” he said.
The outgoing minister said he had submitted his resignation to the President last week. The President told him to keep his post at least until he returned from abroad.
Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis was hounded by reporters as to whether the resignation had anything to do with the reports of the clique.
He said Klokkaris had intended to step down as far back as early July, before the reports first surfaced.
“Thus, it may be inferred that there is no link whatsoever between the two,” he noted.
But Pashardis danced around a journalist’s observation that Klokkaris might have known of the ring even before the story went public.
“Too much unnecessary noise is being made,” he offered.
Asked who might be stirring things up, Pashardis said it was “very ease to trace the culprits,” but did not elaborate.
It has been suggested that the rumours may have been started by EDEK, as payback for losing the Defence Ministry to AKEL this summer. Prior to the Cabinet reshuffle, AKEL had accused the socialists of engaging in mass nepotism inside the military to boost their numbers at polls, sparking a row between the coalition partners.
Yesterday EDEK released a brief statement, denouncing “any party interference in the National Guard.”
The comment was taken as a dig against the communist party, provoking an angry response from AKEL leader Demetris Christofias.
“These are outright lies, slander… I have rarely been this aggrieved,” he told CyBC radio.
“Let us see whether such a ring does exist in the first place, and then point the finger at AKEL.”
Meanwhile, opposition DISY fanned the flames by hinting that a cover-up might be in progress.
Deputy Socrates Hasikos said he had reliable information that an internal investigation launched by the military was being conducted by the very persons suspected of being part of the notorious faction.
“Yes, outrageous things are going on in the armed forces,” he said.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006
Defence Minister stands down amid claims of AKEL army meddling
By Elias Hazou
DEFENCE Minister Fivos Klokkaris announced yesterday he was stepping down for health reasons, feeding speculation over the existence of a faction operating with impunity inside the military.
It has been barely three months since Klokkaris was handed the strategic ministerial portfolio during the government reshuffle in June.
The post, which had previously been held by an EDEK man, was a main bone of contention prior to the reshuffle. At the end of the day, the President appointed military man Klokkaris, a non-party affiliate, to maintain unity among the coalition parties.
Klokkaris had served as National Guard Deputy Chief, becoming the first ever Cypriot Lieutenant-General to occupy the second highest post in the military.
But around late July to early August reports began circulating that a clique of officers inside the National Guard were functioning outside the normal channels and intervening in central matters such as appointments and promotions.
The ring was also said to employ dubious methods, for example placing certain officers under surveillance in a bid to dig up dirt on them and thus put them in a disadvantageous position.
According to the same reports, the clique would spy on officers who visited casinos in the north – a damnable practice by the military’s patriotic standards.
Moreover, rumours spread that the gang – which operated as a shadow staff headquarters within the military – was affiliated to a party.
Communist AKEL was understood to be that party.
The allegations necessitated an investigation by the Attorney-general, and his findings are due some time soon.
To observers, Klokkaris’ resignation corroborated the theory that political circles were meddling in the military. The minister could no longer tolerate working in these conditions, the argument went.
Klokkaris yesterday denied this, saying his decision was based purely on “personal reasons”.
“That is my statement, and I have nothing more to say,” he said.
The outgoing minister said he had submitted his resignation to the President last week. The President told him to keep his post at least until he returned from abroad.
Government Spokesman Christodoulos Pashardis was hounded by reporters as to whether the resignation had anything to do with the reports of the clique.
He said Klokkaris had intended to step down as far back as early July, before the reports first surfaced.
“Thus, it may be inferred that there is no link whatsoever between the two,” he noted.
But Pashardis danced around a journalist’s observation that Klokkaris might have known of the ring even before the story went public.
“Too much unnecessary noise is being made,” he offered.
Asked who might be stirring things up, Pashardis said it was “very ease to trace the culprits,” but did not elaborate.
It has been suggested that the rumours may have been started by EDEK, as payback for losing the Defence Ministry to AKEL this summer. Prior to the Cabinet reshuffle, AKEL had accused the socialists of engaging in mass nepotism inside the military to boost their numbers at polls, sparking a row between the coalition partners.
Yesterday EDEK released a brief statement, denouncing “any party interference in the National Guard.”
The comment was taken as a dig against the communist party, provoking an angry response from AKEL leader Demetris Christofias.
“These are outright lies, slander… I have rarely been this aggrieved,” he told CyBC radio.
“Let us see whether such a ring does exist in the first place, and then point the finger at AKEL.”
Meanwhile, opposition DISY fanned the flames by hinting that a cover-up might be in progress.
Deputy Socrates Hasikos said he had reliable information that an internal investigation launched by the military was being conducted by the very persons suspected of being part of the notorious faction.
“Yes, outrageous things are going on in the armed forces,” he said.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006
-
Svetlana - Main Contributor
- Posts: 3094
- Joined: Sat Nov 06, 2004 9:30 pm
- Location: Paphos
by reportfromcyprus » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:00 pm
I'm really not sure about this story, there's too much speculation, and the only real fact is that the guy resigned.
-
reportfromcyprus - Contributor
- Posts: 838
- Joined: Tue May 02, 2006 1:48 pm
- Location: Limassol, Cyprus
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests
© 2002 - 2015 Cyprus-Forum.com
