The two leaders must assume their historic responsibilities otherwise they will be accountable to future generations
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 18 April 2018, Nicosia
Through his Spokesperson’s statement, it is clear that the UN Secretary-General has not been convinced that the two sides have the political will for a resumption of the negotiations on the line that he himself has set out. This is what the UN Secretary-General’s Spokesperson stated: “The good offices of the Secretary-General are always available, and as in any political issue that is unsolved, the will of both parties is needed to move forward.”
The UNSG insists that the two sides must convince him that they have this political will and that they will not leave the initiative up to him alone. It is evident that the dinner did not lead to a step in the direction of resuming the negotiations, as the UN Secretary-General has stated in his Report after the break down at Crans Montana. What the UNSG actually set out is that the negotiations must resume from the point where they had remained by preserving the body of work that has been accumulated in the negotiations (that is to say, the convergences, the Guterres framework and the cross-negotiation (package approach procedure) of the six issues at two tables).
When terms and preconditions are being set, it is clear that the UN Secretary-General will not proceed to undertake a new initiative. Maybe this suits certain forces and circles. However, every reasonable person understands that the deadlocks on the Cyprus problem consolidate and perpetuate partition, which harbor enormous dangers for Cyprus and our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
On the statements made by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy F. Mogherini
Turkey is exploiting the deadlocks to create new fait accompli. It manages to do this, especially when it is not assigned any responsibilities and no one lodges complains about its intransigence. Unfortunately, not only did Turkey leave Crans Montana without any responsibilities being apportioned on it, but on the contrary it is being praised for its stand. This is what the EU High Representative Mrs. Mogherini did yesterday who was herself present at the crucial working dinner (at Crans Montana). She also credited Turkey, after the UN Secretary-General did too, “with intense work to find a solution”.
Finally, Mr. Anastasiades’ narrative on the failure at Crans Montana, is not shared by anyone among the international community.
We reiterate our appeal addressed to the two leaders to assume their historic responsibilities and push matters towards the solution of the Cyprus problem. Otherwise, they will be accountable to the coming generations who will be living under the constant and imminent peril of the occupation, division and presence of the thousands of Turkish occupation troops.
