Statement by Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, after last evening’s meeting of the National Council

15th September 2016, Nicosia

The General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou expressed the view that the  President of the Republic has so far not gone beyond the “red lines” in the talks and assessed that there is no reason for concern about a possible arbitration on the part of the United Nations Secretary-General. Replying to a question as to whether he agrees that the solution of the Cyprus problem is feasible in 2016 the General Secretary of AKEL replied “extremely difficult”. Furthermore, he also issued an appeal for the lowering of tones and for all parties to show a disposition for cooperation.

In statements made after the meeting of the National Council, Andros Kyprianou said there was quite an informative analysis made of the issues that had been discussed in the meetings, and that the President of the Republic informed about the situation that exists in each of the six chapters which have been discussed so far.

 “Our assessment is that progress has been recorded. Many issues that are extremely important are still pending and no one can say with certainty how the future discussions will develop. Our own view is that we should continue the effort always adhering to the agreed principles of the solution as set out by the UN resolutions, the High-Level agreements, International Law and the principles on which the EU is founded, as they have been recorded over time by the decisions of the National Council in an attempt so that we can reach an agreement as soon as possible, “he said.

The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL said that no one can know how things will develop, whilst concerning the meeting in New York he noted that it has been made clear that there will not be any commitments on the part of the President of the Republic.

On the six thematic sessions of the National Council, Andros Kyprianou said that his party hopes that in that debate the possibility will be given for all views to be heard and to develop a better approach about how we proceed.

He said that today questions on clarifications were submitted by the parties. He explained however that the document on the basis of which the President briefed the parties amounts to 50 pages. The parties asked to have as soon as possible the minutes of the meeting so as to be able to study them in more detail and conduct a more substantive discussion. “It would be wrong if we entered tonight into a substantive discussion  when a simple reading of a document was made,” he said.

Asked about the reference to a more active involvement of the UN Secretary General Andros Kyprianou said that it has been clarified in the briefing made that there are one hundred and three issues that are still pending, that is to say a gerat many issues “and what is essentially sought is for the UN SG to initiate the UN procedures because the Organization itself  must handle these issues, there are many chapters.”

Asked as to what would be the role of the UN, he referred to the Government Spokesperson for further clarifications.

“The role of the UN – as some people are trying to say – will not be for arbitration. They are issues which the UN itself must handle and solve. The President has the list. We havent seen it, ask the Government Spokesman, but there is no reason to worry,” he said.

Asked for his assessment as to whether the President of the Republic has gone beyond the “red lines” set out by the National Council with its unanimous decision in 2009 he said that in his own view the President has not deviated at all from what we call “red lines”.

“There isn’t a reason to worry and I insist that the important issues are still pending, the issues on security, property, territory, executive power and therefore we do not need to have so much tension between us, let’s lower the tones and try to work together to create the best possible conditions for the negotiations and their outcome,” he said.

Asked if based on the given situation  he considered it feasible for a solution in 2016, the General Secretary of AKEL replied “extremely difficult”.