Government must adhere to principled positions on the Palestinian Problem
AKEL held a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador Mr. Walid Hassan at the Palestinian Embassy in Nicosia within the framework of the International Day of solidarity with the struggle of the Palestinian people on the 29 November. Statements of AKEL’s Spokesperson George Loukaides and the Palestinian Ambassador followed.
Statement of Georgos Louciades, AKEL C.C. Press Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 1st December 2014, Nicosia
AKEL had a meeting with the Ambassador of Palestine in Cyprus on our own request within the framework of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, as established by the United Nations by a decision of its General Assembly. I want to take this opportunity to express AKEL’s solidarity with the just struggle of the Palestinian people to safeguard its rights to the Palestinian land. AKEL will continue to take initiatives and has already worked out a series of initiatives to continue expressing its desire for a positive outcome of the efforts and struggles of the Palestinian people so that they can attain their own state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
At the same time we will not stop denouncing Israel’s acts and actions which violate both International Law and human rights. Of course the first and most serious breach of International Law has to do with the continued occupation of the Palestinian territories. Cyprus does not have the luxury of pursuing a policy of double standards. Cyprus must support with steadfastness and consistency positions of principle concerning the resolution of the Palestinian problem, but also with regards developments in the wider region.
I therefore want to take this opportunity to urge the government to follow this long-standing principled stance regarding the Palestinian problem and to defend it in all international bodies and forums, particularly in the EU of which Cyprus is a member. If we make this observation and call to the government, it is because we have in mind specific grievances and complaints which have been expressed by the Palestinians that the Republic of Cyprus lately does not behave in the appropriate manner, especially when issues of Palestinian interest are being discussed inside the EU. We hope that here as well the government will not make the same mistakes as it has done concerning Cyprus’ foreign policy, that is to say in its differentiation and the reversal of balances that had evolved, for example, in our relationship with the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Let’s hope that it will take into consideration the message we are conveying today and that it will review its stance on the issue of the struggle of the Palestinian people.
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