Fidias Panayiotou criticises president over lack of Cyprus talks

Nicosia, Cyprus. Direct Democracy Cyprus leader Fidias Panayiotou criticised President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday over the lack of progress on the Cyprus problem, saying his career in positions of power had borne “no substantial fruit” on the issue.

Criticism after National Council meeting

Speaking after a National Council meeting, Panayiotou said Christodoulides had held positions of power for almost a decade without delivering substantial results. Christodoulides became government spokesman in 2014 and was appointed foreign minister by then president Nicos Anastasiades in 2018.

Panayiotou had earlier said he intended to be “a little tough with the president on the Cyprus issue”. He said 111 months had passed since the last round of talks at Crans-Montana without any substantial development that would restart negotiations.

Echoing comments made on Tuesday by former Disy leader Averof Neophytou, Panayiotou said Christodoulides could become “the only president who has failed to bring the Cyprus issue to negotiations”.

Regional risks raised

Panayiotou said he had also raised regional geostrategic risks at the meeting. He said Iran was becoming stronger following this year’s regional conflict, warned of instability, and said Israel and Turkey could enter into a conflict in the future.

He also raised the potential risks associated with the Great Sea Interconnector, which, if completed, would link the electricity grids of Cyprus, Greece and Israel. Asked what specific suggestions he had made, Panayiotou said those discussions should remain within the National Council.