AKEL Political Bureau on the Cyprus problem
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 17th September 2016, Nicosia
The Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL in its meeting yesterday dealt with the developments on the Cyprus problem.
The next few months will determine the fate of the ongoing negotiating procedure. We will either reach within range of an agreement on the property issue, a development that will enable the substantive discussion of the territorial issue and subsequently of the security issue, or the procedure will collapse with all the resulting negative consequences.
AKEL will remain firmly committed to supporting the negotiating procedure without giving a blank cheque to anyone. Our vision is not the continuation of the current partitionist situation, but the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of principles and the agreed framework; a solution that will liberate and reunite our country and people.
At this critical juncture, AKEL considers it necessary to reaffirm the long-standing positions of principles on the basis of which it will support its position if and provided that there is a conclusion at the talks:
- Withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops, abolition of the anachronistic 1960 system of guarantees, as well as the abolition of any rights of unilateral intervention. AKEL rejects a NATO solution to the issue of security.
- Continuity of the Republic of Cyprus and its transformation into a bicommunal, bizonal federation through the continuity of the status of the member state of the United Nationa and the European Union, as well as through the continuity of the international treaties of the Republic of Cyprus. The prohibition of secession constitutes an additional safeguard for the continuity of the Republic of Cyprus.
- Strong central authority with all the necessary competences that will safeguard, inter alia, the unity of the state, the single sovereignty, single international personality and single citizenship.
- Uninhibited implementation of basic freedoms and human rights for all Cypriot citizens. AKEL does not accept permanent derogations from the acquis communautaire.
- Termination of the colonization and respect of the population ratio of 4: 1 both at the time of the solution and with regards the future flow of Greek and Turkish citizens.
- Substantive territorial adjustments which, inter alia, will include Famagusta and Morphou under Greek Cypriot administration.
- Timeframes should be shortened to the minimum both with regards the return of territories and the withdrawal of the occupation troops. The territories subject to adjustment must belong to the Greek Cypriot federated unit from the moment the overall agreement will enter into force.
- Strong resolution of the UN Security Council and other relevant commitments by all involved parties in order to ensure the implementation and full adherence to the overall solution.
AKEL addresses an appeal to all the political forces to work towards the direction of achieving the greatest possible unity. The effort to reverse the current dangerous and fragile for the future and perspective of our country and people status quo, is immense and everyone is needed in this struggle. Objectively, the President of the Republic plays a decisive role towards the direction of unity. We are not asking political parties to change their positions. We call for the existence of mutual respect and mutual tolerance so that everyone contributes to the solution of the Cyprus problem in their own way.
AKEL addresses a greeting to the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, and calls on them to continue the struggle to achieve a solution soon; a solution that will liberate us from the occupation and the de facto division and create conditions of lasting peace, security and cooperation in our country.
