If Turkey will change its intransigent stance then the way will be opened up for a solution
Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 13th June 2916, Nicosia
Replying to journalist’s question on whether we can be over-optimistic on the prospect of a solution of the Cyprus problem and at what point the negotiations are, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou stated the following:
“As to the question of where we are, the President of the Republic must brief the political forces. Since we have entered the stage of intensive negotiations this is the reason why AKEL has called for the immediate convening of the National Council for the political parties to be informed about where we are at the moment and so that the political forces can express their views.
As regards the question of optimism and pessimism, we consider that instead of getting into a round of internal confrontation about whether we need to be over-optimistic or pessimistic, we believe that we should focus on the negotiation of those core issues on which there is disagreement in an effort to find convergences so as to move the whole negotiation procedure forward. It is at the negotiating table where the course of the negotiations and their prospects will be demonstrated. This is precisely where we must focus with consistency our attention on the basis of the solution and within the framework of principles, which we have expressed many times in order to see whether Turkey is ready to respond to the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. If Turkey will change its intransigent stance then the way will be opened up for a solution that will liberate and reunite our country.”
