Famagusta mayor Alexis Galanos said yesterday that president Demetris Christofias had overreacted to his comments at an anti-occupation event on Saturday.
In his speech Galanos had said that “unfortunately we have learned to live with the problem of occupation but also hide it”.
He said yesterday he had been referring to the EU’s tolerance of the occupation of the island’s northern half by the Turkish army and a tendency by authorities to hide Cyprus’ “wounds” for the benefit of official visitors.
Christofias - who hails from Kyrenia - said he was offended by the comments and that he was “truly sorry” he had shown up to be lectured.
Commenting on Galanos’ view that the island’s dire position had weakened morale, Christofias said that the crisis was being used to blame the government. “Why not analyse its causes? Did it drop from the skies?”
Galanos said that similar criticism on the Cyprus problem has been targeted towards all governments since the 1974 invasion, “why does [Christofias] take it personally?”
But AKEL spokesman George Loukaides said yesterday that Christofias was forced to respond to “unfounded criticism”.
Loukaides said that Famagusta was high on Christofias’ priorities.
Galanos said that his overall message was one of unity but a “touchy” Christofias “protested too much”.