Statement and replies to journalist’s questions of Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL at the end of the meeting with the Republican Turkish Party (CTP)
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 21st February 2017, Nicosia
As you have concluded we had a long, a very long meeting with the delegation of the Republican Turkish Party headed by the President of CTP Toufan Ergourhan. You understand that during the meeting we exchanged views about the situation as it has evolved over the past few weeks, on the pretext of the decision approved by the majority of the House of Representatives to honour and commemorate the Enosis referendum.
It is a fact that the situation is extremely critical and regrettably very difficult indeed. I won’t devote my time to say who is to blame or why we have arrived to this situation. What I would like to point out is that both leaders one more, one less have a responsibility, in our view, to resume substantive negotiations on the Cyprus problem. That’s precisely it must be determined whether we can move towards a solution; a solution that will be acceptable to both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We must not sacrifice the whole effort and all the results achieved in recent years on issues that, in our view, do not have the significance that some circles and forces attribute to them.
I would also like to point out the following as well, and address an appeal to both leaders, but also to all the political parties in the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot community. Let’s all finally realize where we will be heading towards if the negotiations were to collapse. It is an illusion for someone to believe that somehow things will remain as they are today and life will go on as usual without any problems in the event of a collapse the negotiations. Things will be extremely difficult and developments will be very negative for all Cypriots, both for Greek Cypriots as well as for Turkish Cypriots, Maronies, Armenians and Latins.
Consequently AKEL will exhaust every possibility, no matter how small it may be, undertaking efforts so that those preconditions will be created for the resumption of substantive negotiations. This is AKEL’s appeal that I address to both Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akinci, but I reiterate to all the leaders of the political parties as well on both sides of the barbed wire of division. Let’s each and every one of us be fully aware of our responsibility towards our homeland and people.
Did the meeting take place on the pretext of all that took place recently or was it scheduled?
AK: It was held on the pretext of all that has taken place over the last ten days.
You mean the concerns being projected by the Turkish Cypriots?
Yes.
I understand you explained the situation. Aren’t the Turkish Cypriots convinced that there is no issue regarding a change in the Greek Cypriots position on Enosis?
Look it’s not a question of us convincing them. It is obvious that the glass has been broken. We must find some way to stick the pieces back together again. You realize that there may be a high regard and appreciation within the Turkish Cypriot community towards AKEL, but this isn’t enough to address the problems.
Did you discuss other issues as well? The question of the four freedoms for Turkish citizens for example?
We didn’t get into a substantive discussion because we considered that these issues will be discussed provided that the negotiations resume. If it isn’t possible to resume the negotiations there is no point in entering into such discussions – at least at this precise moment.
Do they have any information about whether Mr. Akinci will attend the talks?
For sure they are informed, but you realize that I can’t say what Mr. Akinci will do.
