Excerpts from the address by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou to the 30th Festival of the Local Club of the Left in Ayios Dometios, Nicosia
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 14 September 2018, Nicosia
“The political duty we have before us today is to fight for the self-evident. Namely, for the reunification of the country and the future of our people. Unfortunately, day by day, the hope for reunification and the hope of living a better future in this country is diminishing in the minds of every Cypriot. The Anastasiades-DISY government has begun its second term, determined to destroy what it left standing during its first term of office. We point to the sell-off of the Cooperative Bank, the crisis in Education, the deterioration of the Public Health system, the undermining of Institutions and the unprecedented levels of corruption. All these are developments that we lived and are living through lately, together with stalemate and uncertainty surrounding the Cyprus problem.
What is happening is unprecedented. The Anastasiades-DISY Government has sold off the Cooperative Bank of Cyprus by even paying for this sell-off itself. It has shifted billions of Euros of debts on to the backs of our children and grandchildren, and at the same time it pretends that it cares about “streamlining/rationalizing” education. It has completely destroyed the educational reform that began under the Christofias administration. It has done absolutely nothing with regards special education, evening universities and technical schools. We see schools that, instead of classrooms, are putting school students in containers for their lessons, at the same time as the government pretends that it cares so much about pupil’s right to education. During the Anastasiades-DISY government, every concept of labor rights has been undermined with half wages, double working hours, work on Sundays too has been applied, while at the same time the Government pretends that it cares about working people, denigrating and defaming teachers.
As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, while everyone is saying that developments are imminent, Mr. Anastasiades appears complacent, while he feels so strong that he doesn’t feel the need to convene a meeting of the National Council so that we can have a discussion in the light of developments. The consequences arising from the negative developments in the Turkish economy are creating an explosive situation in the occupied areas. Our energy plans are being postponed indefinitely. Everyone is waiting for our response with regards the prospect of the negotiations resuming, but Mr. Anastasiades doesn’t seem to be concerned about all these developments.
In the face of all this situation, a significant section of society is convinced that only AKEL can stand as a bastion of resistance, can take on the burden of the cause for the vindication of Cyprus, the resistance to the government’s anti-social policies; that only AKEL has the consistency, seriousness and steadfastness that the critical and immense problems our country faces demand.
That is why we are submitting proposals and continuously strengthening our contacts and dialogue with the people. We are intensifying our political actions, both inside and outside the House of Representatives. We do not cease fighting for the workers and the people. Everyone together, united and strong to confront the difficulties, struggling for the future of the country and the prosperity of our people!”
