The
President of the Republic,
Mr Nicos Anastasiades, issued today the following written statement,
which was read to the media by the Government Spokesman, Mr Christos
Stylianides:
“I
express my sorrow and abhorrence for all the deplorable and
unacceptable acts that took place during yesterday’s event that was
jointly organized by the Technological
University of Cyprus, the Office of the European Commission in Cyprus
and Europe Direct, and at which the speaker was the former leader of
the Turkish Cypriot community, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat.
I consider the
expression of the contrary view to be an absolute constitutional
right of every citizen.
However, actions
which are not confined within the right of the freedom of speech but
extend to acts of violence and give rise to a fascist attitude under
the pretext of patriotism, are not only condemnable but are also
damaging to the security and the best interests of Cypriot Hellenism.
I
want to make clear that the constitutional state will not accept any
form of fascist behaviour,
wherever it may come from and in particular from a section that is
overwhelmingly in the minority, which is self-declared as the
ostensible protector of the Hellenism of Cyprus.
In this context,
strict orders have been issued to the Police Force to proceed with
the immediate investigation of the events and to bring to justice all
those who were involved in the unlawful actions that were insulting
to Cypriot Hellenism.
I
will consider as an unacceptable action on the part of the Police
Force, any prosecution that refers to possible insulting attacks
against me. I consider as tolerable even acts of impropriety. What I
demand
is
the immediate prosecution of all those who were engaged in an
absolutely illegal behaviour in order to cancel the event.
Taking into
consideration a series of other actions and omissions by the Chief of
Police but also the Report about the facts that I have in front of me
and within the framework of the exercise of my constitutional rights,
I decided the following:
- The immediate dismissal of the Chief of Police, Mr Michalakis Papageorgiou, for the reasons referred to in the letter addressed to him.
- The appointment to the position of Chief of Police of Mr Zacharias Chrysostomou, Chief Superintendent and Director of the Police Academy, as of 28 March 2014.
- The Minister of Justice and Public Order, in cooperation with the Attorney General, to undertake the immediate investigation of the complaints filed by Turkish Cypriot journalists concerning the injuries suffered by one and the stealing of a video camera from the other.
- In the framework of the same cooperation, the Minister to monitor and supervise the course of the interrogations in order for those involved to be brought to justice at the earliest possible.
I want to repeat
to all the people of Cyprus and in particular to our Turkish Cypriot
compatriots that the primary concern of the Government, but also of
all the political forces, is the achievement of conditions of
peaceful coexistence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in
the context of a solution that will safeguard completely the human
rights and the democratic functions of a state that is a full member
of the European Union.”
The
letter to Mr
Papageorgiou for the termination of his services has already been
given to him personally at Police Headquarters, Mr Stylianides said.
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