The president of DIKO, Nikolas Papadopoulos, expressed optimism that the process of contacts between the parties in the intermediate space will result in a joint pre-election program and a common candidate who will win the 2018 presidential elections, noting that DIKO will include in its contacts the Citizens' Alliance.
In his statements on Monday afternoon, after a meeting with a delegation of the Adoulotis Kyrenia Association, and when asked about the position of the President of the Citizens' Alliance, George Lillikas, that his candidacy for the 2018 presidential elections is not conditional. Papadopoulos stated that "we are not going to comment on the internal procedures of any other party. "These decisions are fully respected."
The president of DIKO reiterated the decision of the Executive Office of DIKO, noting that "we have set the ultimate goal in terms of the next presidential election" which is "change and removal from the current government with the aim of course to change policies in terms of the management of the Cyprus problem but also in matters of internal governance ".
We believe that this goal can only be achieved with the cooperation of the intermediate parties, he said and expressed optimism that after the end of the process for contacts of the intermediate parties, including the Citizens' Alliance, which has just started, it will reach a joint election program and a joint candidate "in a partnership that will allow us to win the presidential election".
The president of DIKO said that "we will seek to have contacts with the Citizens' Alliance as we consider them to be one of the parties included in the intermediate space".
He also mentioned that DIKO will have a meeting with EDEK next Wednesday and will seek to have contacts with the other parties in the next few days.
Asked to say whether during these contacts DIKO will put on the table the names of possible candidates, Mr. Papadopoulos said that he is sure that names will be discussed in these contacts, noting that “the criterion of eligibility and other characteristics of the candidate These are important issues that we need to discuss. "
Asked if DIKO will propose its own name, Mr. Papadopoulos said that DIKO has the right, like all other parties in the intermediate space, to have an opinion, “especially because we are the largest party in the center, and we have an opinion. We will listen to the positions and suggestions of the other parties, we will convey to them our own views and our own suggestions ".
He added that "we are at the beginning of this process and I am optimistic that when we are done we will have an agreement, and a common candidate and the prospect of winning the presidential election."
Referring to his meeting with the delegation of the Adoulotis Kyrenia Association, N. Papadopoulos said that they conveyed to him the concerns, fears and concerns of the people of Kyrenia in relation to the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.
He said that "at least as far as we are concerned, the solution of the Cyprus problem will be judged in Kyrenia. Kyrenia is in our thoughts and in our hearts, but above all we demand a solution to the Cyprus problem that will guarantee human rights, the right to return, and not to impose a solution of national clarification, which will separate property rights from rights. occupation ”.
"In this way, it is not only the people of Kyrenia who will be deprived of the right to return, but the vast majority of refugees," he said.
He said that there is a very bad climate in the EU today with regard to Turkey "and we must use this climate to promote our own positions, our own aspirations, in order to reach a functional and sustainable solution. Cyprus ”.
The president of the Adoulotis Kyrenia Association, Kleanthis Soleas, described their meeting as very constructive and said that as people from Kyrenia, they expressed their fears about what is happening today, not only for Kyrenia but also for the rest of Cyprus.
He stated that they are convinced, after 43 years of fruitless efforts, that the Cyprus problem must be repositioned as a matter of invasion, occupation, and therefore liberation.
He pointed out that the reunification of Cyprus will return to normal when Cyprus is liberated and that is why we must reposition the Cyprus issue on its proper basis, with the aim of withdrawing all foreign troops and all settlers, and returning all refugees, Greek Cypriots and T / C, in the ancestral homes, with a Constitution, based on which "one man, one vote" will apply.
Source: KYPE