Nicosia, Cyprus. Former Disy leader Averof Neophytou on Wednesday defended his decision to call on Israel to “finish the job” in its war with Iran and criticised Akel for directing questions to Disy leader Annita Demetriou rather than to him.
Neophytou’s response to Akel
Neophytou wrote in a post on social media that Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou should “address and hear from me instead of asking … Demetriou”.
He said that “a war has started in Iran” and that as a result of uncertainty, oil prices have “skyrocketed”. He added that if the situation does not end, “the global economy will go into recession”, and said the crisis would not bypass Cyprus, which he said was already experiencing effects on tourism.
Neophytou said that, addressing the Israeli ambassador, he stated that “the one who started this situation must end it”, and called on Stefanou to “leave the tactics to one side” and “speak responsibly about serious issues”.
Conference footage and remarks
Video footage of Neophytou speaking at the conference was published on social media late on Tuesday night by Greek journalist Dimitri Lascaris. The conference was reportedly also attended by Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel and ambassador in Athens Noam Katz.
In the video, Neophytou said cooperation had “deepened into a formal, strategic alignment, focusing on energy, infrastructure, joint defence efforts, and economic innovation, acting as a crucial feeder of stability in the region”, before turning to the war.
He said: “By the way, since you start the war, you have to finish the job, in order to secure the future stability, we must suffer the today’s cost, but it’s better to secure stability for the future and the young and new generation.”
Akel’s criticism and questions to Disy
In response, Akel said that, “in other words, he called for the continuation and intensification of the United States’ and Israel’s war against Iran, a war which violates international law, poses nightmarish dangers for humanity, and has enormous economic consequences which are paid for by the states and peoples of our region”.
Akel said Disy and Demetriou “must answer whether they embrace Averof Neophytou’s statement”, adding that it was “cut and sewn to the measurements of the extremists who govern the US and Israel”. It said they must answer whether this was “the foreign policy they desire”.
Akel added that if Disy “does not care about human lives about human lives and international law”, the party “should at least care about the devastating consequences that the US’ and Israel’s war has for Cyprus and its economy, for which society is once again paying”.
What do you think Cyprus’s political parties should prioritise when responding publicly to comments on international conflicts?