AKEL mustn’t be taken for granted by anyone on the Cyprus problem
23rd January 2017, Cyprus News Agency CNA
The General Secretary of Central Committee of AKEL Andros Kyprianou said he expects to be briefed by the President of the Republic on the developments in Mont Peleran.
He considers that some steps forward were taken in general, in the sense that the discussion on the territory and security issues will begin, but added that no one is in a position to say whether we are closer to a solution or not, because – as he said – we don’t know what positions the Turkish side will present in these debates.
Mr. Kyprianou said if Turkey participates in the talks with goodwill and is guided by how the interests of Cypriots will be better served, he believes that there are grounds for reaching an agreement.
He also considered that everything will be judged at the negotiating table, stating that we should not assess public positions and statements that are made which serve their own expediencies. It’s at the negotiation table where we shall determine whether there is a political will on the part of the Turkish side to contribute towards the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem.
The General Secretary of AKEL said he has heard the view being expressed by various political parties and figures that the positions submitted by the Turkish side on security and territorial issues were maximalist.
Indeed he said that when a negotiation is ongoing everything related to this negotiation finds the two sides begin by putting forth their maximum positions.
Asked whether we can set a timeframe as to when we can talk about achieving a solution Mr. Kyprianou replied, “We have never set a timeframe because the solution of the Cyprus problem has nothing to do with time; it has to do with the positions submitted at the negotiating table”.
Objectively he estimated that if we approach May then things will become more difficult as the election campaign for the 2018 presidential elections will commence. It is, he noted, important to clear up by then in which direction we are moving towards.
Replying to a journalist’s question, the General Secretary of AKEL said that the last thing that AKEL can become is “to be taken for granted by anyone”, be it the governing DISY party or any other political party.
AKEL, he pointed out, has steadfast principled positions on the Cyprus problem. The fact is that other forces have shifted from their own positions and today are backing the positions his party has always supported
Furthermore, he clarified that as regards the presidential elections, AKEL will not be led by anyone.
AKEL, he noted, will seek cooperation on the basis of principles, both with regards the Cyprus problem and internal governance issues.
AKEL, he reiterated, will not under any circumstances be led by anyone, stressing that this must be taken into account by all.
