He spoke in an interview at KYPE about the perspectives that are opened up by the utilization of Renewable Energy Sources, about the housing policy, the management of real estate properties, the necessary actions of the Republic of Cyprus (KD) in view of Turkish provocation and the fight against corruption the independent candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, Konstantinos Christofidis. Mr. Christofidis was also positioned for the course of the effort of an alternative pole for the voters, through the cooperation of four independent candidates, saying that "if there is a prospect of preventing the so-called three candidates, then this has its importance and must be done" .
Referring to the main priorities during the first period after his election, Mr. Christofides highlighted as a primary issue the restoration of Cyprus' credibility internationally, through a "modern foreign policy". He added that taking care of vulnerable groups, the middle class, students, in the midst of the intensifying crisis, is also a priority. He also referred to issues related to Mass Transportation, noting that a group of experts will conduct studies on trams in Nicosia and Limassol.
He placed particular emphasis on the issues of Renewable Energy Sources, saying that through the saving of hydrocarbons it will be possible to open quality jobs for young people. "We have designed with Mr. Pissarides a program for 20.000 jobs for young people, in the next five years," said Mr. Christofides, adding that an important parameter in the utilization of human resources is the consolidation of meritocracy through legislative regulations.
Answering a question about moves to relieve citizens burdened by increased energy costs, Mr. Christofidis said that today the state buys energy from photovoltaic and wind farms at scandalous prices. "In times of economic crisis and poverty, this cannot be accepted, with regulation it will end," he noted, presenting his position for the creation of large photovoltaic, green social parks. "The cost is 2,4 billion euros and corresponds to a share of 30.000 euros for every Cypriot in a green social park," he said and added that in order for the citizens to respond, he has made contacts with European banks, which can to lend at zero interest, as he said. "So a baby born today at the age of 20 will have €20.000 in benefits in the bank from this stock to start their life," he added.
"Saving fuel imports from the EAC, which currently costs 1 billion and translates into 20.000 jobs for young people, of 50.000 euros" said Mr. Christofidis, emphasizing at the same time that "these do not take decades or five years to be done, but months, so in a year from now Cyprus will have the ability to produce a large percentage of energy and the prices of 35 cents that we know today will drop below 10 cents".
Speaking about the perspective of the development of Higher Education, in connection with the infrastructure for student accommodation, the candidate for the Presidency underlined that "the quality of the universities will bring students and not the development in concrete" setting the goal in the next 10 years to have a university of Cyprus among the 100 best in the world and all our universities among the 500 best.
"There are today vast tracts of state and church land that need to be built on so that students can find rooms at low prices," he said, referring to the issue of student housing. He added that this solution could also concern new couples. "That modern houses be built on these lands, that young people can rent at a low rent, since the land will be free, and that they be the first to have the option to buy the apartment, if they wish, and all the money they have put in rent, to be between installments. Let's not build refugee settlements again, but a humane environment," he said.
Regarding the management of t/c properties, as the only refugee candidate as he said, Mr. Christofides noted that "it is unacceptable when one hears that only 7% of t/c properties are managed by refugees, while the remaining 93% have gone to people of the political system". As he characteristically mentioned, "there has been a party with the t/c properties all these years, bigger than the party of passports" and that is why he is planning the formation of a committee, which will undertake to find out where and how each t/c piece went . "Non-refugees or people who had no property in the occupied territories cannot have access to land plots, unless the refugees want it," he noted.
However, he highlighted the manipulations in relation to property as problematic, referring to the transfer of 300-350 million euros from refugees to lawyers, in the context of appeals to the ECtHR. "We want to organize a committee that will advise the refugees on whether they should take refuge in the t/k committee or not," said Mr. Christofidis.
"The great victory of Titina Loizidou evaporated, because some astute people pushed the refugees to take refuge in the ECtHR en masse and in the end this sent us to the t/k committee", he added while wondering if "it is possible for a Cypriot to expect Mr. Tatar to give him his property".
Regarding the handling of the Cyprus issue, in view of Turkish provocation, he said that this period is the most critical that we have gone through after the Turkish invasion and recognized the defense of the country as a priority. "It must together with the allies, I hope together with Greece, be a deterrent force if there is a wider war in the region," he said, explaining that "all the peoples of the region are against Turkish-Sunni expansionism." He said that "after nine years in the government, another candidate discovered the 2% for defense".
He also reiterated the position that Cyprus should proceed with an application for NATO membership. "Turkey will react, but we are making our mark, we are saying once and for all that we belong to the Western world," he said, adding that "it will be difficult for Turkey, especially after the vagaries of the accession of Sweden and Finland." In response to a question, moreover, I said that the lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus is perhaps a signal that we should move towards NATO.
Regarding the treatment of the phenomenon of corruption, Mr. Christofidis referred to the Pissarides text that was released a few days ago, describing it as the "book on corruption". He explained that when the President has the ability to appoint everyone, party affiliations play a central role and thus "parties distribute spoils in positions of power", referring to a series of cases that indicate corruption, from Cyprus Airlines to the concession of photovoltaics parks to "party friends", Focus, passports, and the exploitation of refugees, as he said. "The meritocracy produces a low standard, it sets the bar low," said Mr. Christofidis, "as a consequence of which the right people are not in the right positions." He clarified, however, that he is not against the political parties, but against the way they operate.
Responding to a question about the course of the effort for the cooperation of the four candidates for an alternative pole in the presidential elections, he noted that "if there is a prospect of being able to prevent the so-called three candidates, then this is important and must be done." He said there will be a poll in October that will measure "which of the four people prefer to lead this effort, who has the best quality credentials and who has the best second-round prospect." He explained that if this perspective exists, the effort will go ahead, after the four agree on some programmatic statements.
"I am not an ethereal person, I know that things are difficult. In the presidential elections, it is not only the election that matters, it is also the route, what we will propose, what we will promote to the world, what ideas we will put down. It is this beautiful process that allows citizens to judge and compare", noted Mr. Christofidis.
Answering about the distribution of powers and responsibilities in case the formula between the four is reached, he said that this is of no importance. "Importance in an administration is to bring together the best people, who can make a difference, who we envy and applaud, because they can make things better," he said. He identified as the most important goal to convince the world that "between the successor of Mr. Anastasiadis, his political psychopath and his partner in the Cyprus issue for a decade, there is another alternative."
"The size of a country does not depend on the geographical size or the size of the population, but on the size of the minds of young people," he concluded and called on young people to go to the polls judging and comparing and choosing the future they dream for themselves their.