AKEL on the 5 years since the war in Syria

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 18th March 2016, Nicosia

 

Five years have passed since the bloody war broke out in Syria. 250,000 people are dead and 4.6 million people have become refugees, while there are 6.6 million displaced persons in their own country. Unspeakable atrocities have been committed. The country’s infrastructures and economy have almost been completely destroyed. 13.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. This is what the war has cost so far.

AKEL from the very beginning spoke out about the foreign plans and interests that were behind the unrests that broke out in Syria and stressed that the struggle for democracy and the choice of government in each country is the exclusive right and responsibility of its own people and not of any foreign powers. However, the coordinated intervention of the US, Turkey, the European Union and the Gulf monarchies in Syria’s internal affairs was from the very outset quite clear, whose main objective was to overthrow the Assad government and install a pro-Western regime that would be willing to assist their geo-political and energy plans for a “New Middle East.” They financed, trained and armed the forces of the Syrian opposition which was the hothouse from which sprang the murderous hordes of jihadists. Combined with the situation created by the previous interventions carried out in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, the horrific monstrosity of the “Islamic State” organization was consolidated, the most inhuman humanity has seen since Hitler fascism.

The refugee crisis that followed the war represents another aspect of the Syrian drama which has at the same time revealed the true character of the European Union, the cynicism behind all the slogans and talk about European principles and values. The uprooted refugees did not encounter the humanism and solidarity of the EU. They either drowned in the Mediterranean Sea or had to face electrified walls, fences, NATO and FRONTEX patrols, police repression, tear gas and racism. In contrast to the policies of the leaders of the EU, the Greek people are a shining example who is delivering lessons in solidarity and humanity to the whole of Europe.

All these years, the Anastasiades-DISY party government did not take a different position from the prevailing EU policy line, neither on the refugee issue, nor on the substance of the Syrian crisis. It not only did not articulate in words at least even some wishful thinking about the need for an end to the bloodshed taking place just a few dozen kilometers from our own country, but it supported the plans against Syria and its people. The EU’s decisions to arm the Syrian opposition and strengthen it through oil trade have also been signed by the Anastasiades-DISY party government as well. In addition, the government consented obediently to the use of the British bases and willingly ceded every facility to NATO forces for their raids into the neighboring country. Instead of projecting Cyprus as a bridge of peace and humanitarian solidarity, the government proclaimed our country an “advanced outpost of Western forces”.

AKEL stated and is repeatedly expressing its opposition to Cyprus’ involvement in such plans. AKEL reaffirmed from every podium that there can be hope for peace in Syria if the NATO countries and the G20 stop any strengthening of the “Islamic State” and cease fighting against the forces fighting IS on the ground, that is to say the army and the Kurds of Syria.

AKEL supported and supports the respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria, against the plans for its partition that would generate a new cycle of instability in our neighbourhood. At the same time, AKEL joins its voice with the voice of the movements and peoples of Europe who, against the tide of racism, are calling for a humane and dignified accommodation of refugees and the respect for the right to asylum.