Former Cypriot President Christofias walks out of inquiry
Former Cyprus President Demetris Christofias walked out of a public enquiry into the collapse of Cyprus’ financial system Thursday, because he was not allowed to read a 25-page statement.
Christofias declined to answer questions before he read the statement.
He asked to read out the prepared statement to answer to the “many lies and inaccuracies” which are stemming from “five or six” political parties and “most of the media”.
Following established practice, the judges on the inquiry panel refused to allow him to read the statement, which, as he said, would have taken 90 minutes.
Christofias said that he was the President of the Republic for five years and he is not to be treated as any witness as he is accused of a great deal by many, claiming for the right to respond to the accusations heard before the Committee. “I feel like a defendant in the dock. I feel as if I have already been found guilty,” he said asking questions to be put in writing.
He also questioned the procedure followed by the Committee since he was called to testify before former Cyprus Central Bank Governor Athanasios Orphanides.
Following his departure, Christofias gave a press conference where he read his statement in which he answers to accusations that he is rensbosible for Cyprus; economic collapse. He cited EU officials as Commissioner Oli Rehn as well as international credit rating institutions saying that the banking system led Cyprus to its financial turmoil. “Unfortunately, the negative developments in the Cyprus banking system were not addressed by the competent authority, so it required the support of the state, which could not bear the financial burden,” Christofias said.
He said he had not refused to answer questions, adding that it was the committee that refused to let him read his statement.
“Even in courts, those accused of terrible crimes, have the right to submit and read their testimony,” Christofias said. “There was an effort to gag us, something I consider completely unacceptable.”
The committee said it would refer the matter to the attorney-general.
Orphanides is due to testify on Friday.
After Christofias stepped down in February, his successor Nicos Anastasiades signed an unprecedented 23 billion euro bail-in/bailout package.
In return for a 10 billion-euro bailout ($13 billion), the troika demanded the winding up of the island`s second largest bank Laiki and a haircut on deposits over 100,000 euros in its largest lender Bank of Cyprus.
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