Speech by A. Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, at the events to present the AKEL-Left-New Forces candidate lists

 

AKEL C.C. Press Office, February 2016, Nicosia

I stand here today with pride. Once again we have shown the qualitative superiority of AKEL. Other political parties and forces are obsessed with making sensationalist moves and others in securing “transfers” to their candidate lists – as if politics resembles a football championship and the House of Representatives is a football arena. AKEL promptly presented its candidate lists to the people with the participation of people who were elected by the members and friends of AKEL and not appointed by the leader of the Party or were selected due to their media popularity, or by any big business tycoon or media mogul. We propose a representation in Parliament by people who have something to say and a lot of work to do, as well as people who can make a difference. We propose representatives characterised by ethos, modesty, seriousness and capabilities and who can defend the interests of the majority of the people rather than the interests of a select and privileged few; representatives who will defend the perspective of Cyprus and not its submission and selling off. Youth, women, scientists, experienced members of the Party, people of the wider Left spectrum and New Forces are all part of our proposal for the new parliament. They will be the counter force to the ridiculous tricks by MP’s, which lately are increasing, offending all those they represent with their arrogance, populism and their conservatism which is reminiscent of another era.

More and more people consider that with this government nothing will be left standing; that it will dismantle everything. AKEL-Left-New Forces represents the bastion of resistance to counter the attacks the people, and especially the workers, are facing. More and more people believe that the future generations will not have a future in Cyprus; that partition will be threatening Cyprus; that Cyprus will be crushed by the growing poverty. AKEL-Left-New Forces can rise up as a bastion of resistance to this threat. A large section of Cypriot society is again turning to AKEL, for its dignity, a perspective and hope for the future.

This is our greatest responsibility: to vindicate the expectations of all those who are looking towards us; all those we are encountering every day, from various political spectrums. Many of them say to us constantly the same thing: “Only you will manage to stop them”, “Only you can do something.” We must believe too that they are right.

AKEL is the driving force for the solution of the Cyprus problem. It has the strength to put the interests of the country above any petty-party interests and it proves this every day in practice. The more time passes by the more the correctness of its long-standing policy on the Cyprus problem is confirmed. AKEL has a vision for Cyprus which it asserted in practice with the proposals it tabled that do away with ethnic conflict and bring to an end the barriers that want us to live side by side; proposals that talk about the future of Cyprus, where Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will live and build their common future.

After numerous adventures, negotiations with a view to finding a functional, viable and just under the circumstances solution are ongoing. There is no alternative other than the correct solution of the Cyprus problem, if we want our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to live without the threat of extinction in the place of their birth. The correct solution is the only way to create the preconditions for growth, prosperity and progress. These certainly cannot be guaranteed by any particular solution. They will only be guaranteed by a solution that will terminate the occupation and colonization; exclude any possible imperialist interventions in our internal affairs and isolate the chauvinist and nationalist elements; restore the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. They will only be guaranteed by a solution that will be based on the UN resolutions, the High-Level Agreements, International Law and the principles on which the EU is founded; that will demilitarize Cyprus and exclude any guarantees or rights of intervention in the internal affairs of the country by any foreign forces. These preconditions will only be guaranteed by a solution that will reunite the territory, the people, the institutions and the economy under a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as described in the UN texts. Only such a solution, once agreed, should be brought before the Cypriot people in referenda.

As AKEL, we remain firmly committed to these principles. We put forward these principles, whether we are talking with the Turkish Prime Minister, or with anyone else. I reiterate again to make it absolutely clear: what we are seeking is an honourable compromise with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots – not a compromise with the occupation or with any third party.

 

Some circles and forces deliberately choose to completely distort reality in order to kill any progress in the negotiations. Others are cultivating the impression that tomorrow morning the Cyprus problem will be resolved. In view of the forthcoming elections it seems that the game of creating impressions has begun. Enough of these games! Our people have had enough of the “pledges” that were brandished around. It has been betrayed many times by empty words and rhetoric. It is thirsty for the truth. We have a long way to go until the Cyprus problem is solved. The efforts on the issues on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem must first be agreed. If we can reach an agreement on the internal aspects we will subsequently discuss the issues concerning the international dimension. This is precisely where Turkey will show whether it really wants a solution.

AKEL does not give anyone carte blanche and a free hand to negotiate the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, we are following developments and whenever and where necessary we exert our criticism. We hope and demand that Mr. Anastasiades negotiates the Cyprus problem adhering to basic principles and that he simultaneously demonstrates flexibility on tactics and the handling of the problem. We hope that everyone, but above all President Anastasiades, will rise to the occasion.

Recently we have come under relentless attacks from the leadership of the Democratic Party for our patriotic stand on the Cyprus problem. Their goal is obvious. They want to divide society and serve their pre-election goals. We will not follow them on this divisive path. We insist that we can all contribute to the efforts to achieve a solution as long as we accept the agreed framework and are honest when we say so.

AKEL’s responsible attitude and patriotism is reflected on socio-economic issues too. AKEL is the force of resistance against the attacks the broad popular masses are facing. Working people are looking towards AKEL, who see their wages and salaries being slashed and who find it difficult in obtaining the bare essentials for their families. We are referring to the unemployed who are losing little by little their hope of finding a job; to the young people who cannot build their lives in Cyprus and are emigrating en masse; to the school pupils and students who feel that their hard work will be rewarded with a number at the job centre in search of work. We are talking about all those subject to the humiliation of a guaranteed minimum income for some crumbs that the government took from the poor to give to the poorest; to the farmers, pensioners, the disabled, single parents and women.

All of these people cannot be comforted by the narrative propagated by the government and DISY party which is repeated every night on the news that “we are coming out of the Memorandum; the kick-start of the economy is on the way”. For three years now we have been hearing about the economy kick-starting, but we haven’t seen it. For three years we are told “be patient, your sacrifices are ending” and yet for three years they have been crushing us with sacrifices. Cyprus will exit the Memorandum. But we will not get away from the Memoranda anti-social policies and austerity because these policies constitute the ideological manifesto of the Anastasiades-DISY party Government. These policies represent their own ideals and beliefs.

They are not interested in the consequences these policies are having, about the 70,000 unemployed persons and the 30,000 who have already emigrated; about the 234,000 of our fellow citizens who live at risk of poverty. They are indifferent to the fact that the value of salaries has fallen to the levels it was twenty years ago and that Cyprus is among the top three countries with the greatest inequality in society. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer. This is the result of the class-based policy imposed by the Anastasiades and DISY party Government.

They are celebrating Cyprus’ entry into the world markets and the supposedly low interest rates they have secured. Do they really wonder why in Cyprus we continue to pay the highest lending rates in the Eurozone? They constantly refer to the banking sector’s “achievements” and its full stabilization. Do they wonder why the banks do not offer any new loans? Why the banks demand new capitalizations? They are promoting a better than expected performance in public finances and the creation of primary surpluses. Do they recognize from whose pockets they are taking this money from? They are taking this money from the pockets of pensioners and the poor, indeed at a time when the government has cut millions from the benefits for social policy and health.

But it is not only the relentless attack on incomes, on working people’s gains and rights. It is also the unprecedented arrogance and authoritarianism the government and DISY show. Doctors and nurses protested about the state of collapse in hospitals. How were they treated? They told them that they are ridiculing the House of Representatives and making patients suffer. They are indifferent to the fact that the entire state is being ridiculed when every day thousands of people are at risk because of the situation in public hospitals. Have they visited hospitals to see what is going on? Have they ever sat in a queue from dawn to wait for a test? They probably haven’t.

Hotel workers and bus workers also organized protests. Almost instinctively the President of DISY party reacted to tell the workers that they are endangering the Cyprus economy! The recovery amount demanded by employees amounted to just € 47,000. With the greatest of ease they decide about high income earners or their advisors. But when it comes to workers, “austerity” is demanded. Doesn’t all that DISY with DIKO voted for in parliament, namely for the foreclosures, privatizations and the selling of loans, endanger the economy? The only ones that endanger the economy, according to the government and ruling forces, are the workers when they are fighting for their rights…

Worst of all, is their behaviour towards working people. When the President was asked to justify his broken promise on privatizations he called the people working in the Semi-governmental organizations “bureaucrats” and “useless.” He was referring to those he himself called “friends” in the written letter he wrote to them inviting them to vote for him in the presidential elections, a letter pledging that he was against privatizations. When the issue of security at airports was debated the DISY party again denigrated ​​the work of the police airport staff by saying that “they are paid thousands just to watch a screen, to supervise gates.” There has never previously been a government that humiliates and discredits so much and so blatantly working people. The most grotesque of all is that this is said by the very same people who tomorrow will seek their votes again, commending them of their service to the country.

Also tragic is when every time AKEL opposes all these actions and policies, the Finance Minister talks about “populism”, threatening us that we will find him confronting us. We are already on opposing sides. We struggle to protect the primary family house and small business premises against the permanent refusal of the Government. We are struggling to preserve public wealth and assets. We submitted concrete proposals to improve the chaos created by the “reform” of social policy and implementation of the so-called Guaranteed Minimum Income. We proposed alleviating smallholders from taxation of immovable property which they again rejected.

We will not stop here. We want to give the country a new momentum, a new perspective to improve its production capabilities. We want to support the real economy, on the basis of a different model of economic activity; to support policies that can be productive, such as the radical reform of the tax system for a fairer distribution of tax burdens, for a fairer redistribution of resources, adopting incentives for growth and the stamping out of tax evasion. We want to promote savings in public finances, rationally and not levellingly and to channel them for growth and the enhancement of the welfare state; to preserve and protect the social character of public utility organizations; to put once again at the centre of economic policy small and medium family businesses and give them access to funding; to elaborate a modern strategy to support and develop industrial production; to promote genuine agrarian reform for development with radical new production and marketing methods; to modernize our tourism policy; to reconstruct our social policy to combat poverty and social exclusion; to set up a Unified National Housing Policy; to make public health a right for all; to protect labour norms and combat unemployment through new, quality and dignified jobs and to promote measures to alleviate over debt households and SME’s. As AKEL, we have already submitted numerous proposals on all of these issues and are simultaneously elaborating new proposals as well.

We have elaborated and submitted proposals such as the creation and operation of a state financial institution to channel the necessary liquidity to SME’s; for the reduction of rents; the promotion of the safeguarding through legislation of professions and expertise; the extension of the time period for the granting of unemployment benefit; the support of maternity rights, as well as the equal sharing of family responsibilities; the development of new cooperative enterprises in innovative sectors of the economy and areas where social benefits would arise; the development of professional and amateur, artistic and intellectual creation; the expansion of the list of persons to be checked for them to submit a statement declaring, inter alia, their wealth, property etc. which will include, among other things, those in positions of the state’s main three powers (executive, legislative and judicial) and generally all those managing public money by exercising public power or those who take important decisions affecting public finances or public administration; the fight against xenophobia, racism and intolerance, primarily through the education of young people.

Every one of us has the power to realize these proposals in practice. Disillusionment, fatalism, indignation, rage, anger, loathing of political involvement is not going to change anything. Each one of us can make the difference. There is no time to lose, nor the time for any excuses. If Bills that will ruin our lives were approved by just one vote difference, everyone can comprehend how important it is to strengthen AKEL-Left-New Forces in the House of Representatives.

We are not only appealing to AKEL voters. We address every progressive and democratic person – anyone who considers that Cyprus has a future and a perspective only through a just, functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, anyone who believes that we must resist the anti-social onslaught of Anastasiades and DISY party. AKEL-Left-New Forces can do so. Our power will be theirs too. Our voice will be their voice.

As a Presidential candidate, Mr. Anastasiades, together with the Democratic Rally party, at every opportunity was making the pledge that he will bring “spring” to Cyprus, the dawn of a new day. Three winters have already gone by and the pre-election “spring” they were promising the people still hasn’t come. If you do not find the spring you fight for it and create it, says the Poet. That’s why now the time has come for everyone to make the difference!

 

On 22nd May the resistance must become stronger, to strengthen the hope!

 

On 22nd May AKEL-Left-New Forces must be even stronger!

 

The power that will make the difference!