Lost in Translation?

I suspect a couple of celebrity journalists in the United States have been sharing a bottle of absinthe. And naturally, diplomatic sources are inclined to confirm these suspicions.

The celebrities in question are none other than Zoupaniotis and Ignatiou. But please don't get me started on Ignatiou. I'm in a relatively good mood today and intend to stay that way.

There's a lovely little piece on Cyprus Comedy Central, filed by Mr. Zoupaniotis that appeared on Wednesday night entitled "UN Has No Mandate to Assign Responsibility to Parties in Cyprus", which is a glaring example of what is known in journalism as a non-story. Yes, I am being polite.

The article is based on clever little questions which the Secretary General's spokesperson was forced to answer regarding statements Annan had made after his meeting with Talat of the North a few days ago which had the Cyprus government frothing at the mouth. It was time to unleash Celebrity Journalist.

Here's an excerpt from the piece:

Invited to comment on Annan’s statement where he used the phrase "Turkish north", the Spokesperson replied "the Secretary General was referring to northern Cyprus, the area of the island under Turkish Cypriot administration".

But the best bit of the story - which appears only in the original form in greek but not in the english translation, goes:

"Διπλωματική πηγή ανέφερε ότι ο Κόφι Ανάν κινείται εκδικητικά επιχειρώντας να προδιαθέσει το διάδοχό του στο κυπριακό, με το θέμα της λεγόμενης άρσης της απομόνωσης, που επιχείρησε πολλάκις να φέρει στο Σ.Α., αλλά απέτυχε εξ αιτίας της παρουσίας της Ελλάδας και των ρωσικών αντιδράσεων."

Roughly translated; according [naturally] to a diplomatic source, Annan is being vindictive and trying to influence his successor on the matter of lifting of the "so-called isolation..." yadda, yadda, yadda...

Now, I wonder if the "diplomatic source" knows he or she was quoted. Could it have been the kafetzou, or the driver, perhaps? Could it have come from a little brain storming session at the UN Mission, after he read the first draft of his piece out loud?

We'll never know as this would obviously betray confidentiality.

Koumpare Pashiardi, am I going to get that CNA job you promised, now that the coast is clear or what?