SOLUTION SKEPTIC DIKO STAYS IN COALITION

C O N F I D E N T I A L NICOSIA 000112

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/25/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL CY
SUBJECT: SOLUTION SKEPTIC DIKO STAYS IN COALITION

REF: NICOSIA 91

Classified By: Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic for reasons 1.4(b) and 1.4(
d)

1.(C) SUMMARY: The Central Committee of the Democratic Party
(DIKO),President Christofias' only remaining coalition
partner, decided by a large majority to remain in the
government despite stark disagreement with Christofias'
Cyprus negotiation tactics and proposals. Christofias
reportedly promised DIKO a seat in the negotiating team, but
did not agree to retract proposals objectionable to DIKO. The
party, however, still threatened withdrawal from the
governing coalition should the talks produce an
"unacceptable" solution plan. Following socialist EDEK'S
decision two weeks ago to leave the coalition, the tiny Green
party also withdrew its political support for Christofias.
Despite the vote, we expect more friction between Christofias
and the hard-line, ultimately anti-solution DIKO.

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DIKO STAYS PUT, FOR NOW
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2. (U) Following days of public back and forth, DIKO's
Central Committee on February 23 supported party leader
Marios Garoyian's decision to stay in the government. The
hopes of hard-liners, spearheaded by Deputy Leader George
Colocassides and Vice President Nicolas Papadopoulos, were
crushed by Garoyan's 73% vote of support. The DIKO leader had
quashed a similar protest with a strong Central Committee
vote in June 2009.


3. (SBU) To strengthen his hand, Garoyian reportedly
extracted certain unknown negotiations-related commitments
from President Christofias. Christofias reportedly promised,
in writing, to allow a pro-DIKO member on his negotiating
team, but stopped short of explicitly promising a retraction
of his proposals (DIKO categorically rejects the core of
Christofias' compromises: rotating presidency and the right
of 50,000 Turkish "settlers" to remain on the island
post-settlement). Instead, Christofias reportedly wrote in a
letter to Garoyian that the negotiators are at liberty to
enrich, reformulate or replace proposals, while emphasizing
the basic principle of the talks that "nothing is agreed
until everything is agreed." Press reports suggest that DIKO
will not claim either of the two cabinet seats vacated after
EDEK's withdrawal (see reftel) to preempt criticism that the
party remained in the government merely for the spoils.


4. (SBU) Addressing the Central Committee, Garoyian stressed
that DIKO wished to remain in the government in order to play
a "regulating" role on Christofias. He noted, however, that
he did not endorse the "well-known" proposals of Christofias
and reserved the right to disagree. Similarly, the press
spokesman of the party, Photis Photiou, told newsmen after
the meeting that the decision to stay did not constitute
"carte blanche" for Christofias and warned that if the talks
produced an unacceptable solution plan, DIKO would pullout of
the government.

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GREENS WITHDRAW SUPPORT TO CHRISTOFIAS
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5. (SBU) The Green Party announced on February 20 that it
would no longer support the current Administration's "failed
policies" on the Cyprus issue, as well on the economy, social
issues, and the environment. The party, which garnered only
1.8% in the parliamentary elections of 2006, endorsed
Christofias' candidacy in 2008 but proved to be a constant
critic of his policy on the Cyprus negotiations. Reacting to
the Greens decision, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou
said that "they lifted the support they never gave to the
Government."


6. (C) COMMENT: DIKO's decision to remain in the government
represents a cold, political calculation and was taken
despite opposition to Christofias' negotiating efforts. The
philosophical differences between AKEL and DIKO over how best
to unite the divided island have, once again, merely been
papered over. Despite mouthing support for a bizonal,
bicommunal federal solution, DIKO strongly objects to any
move that would make this a reality. Differences are bound,
again, to resurface should the talks produce more progress.

URBANCIC