The President of the Republic must convene the National Council

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 5 February 2019, Nicosia

In relation to what we are hearing and reading in the mass media – evidently after targeted leaks by the government ruling forces – we express our concern about the course of the processes for a resumption of the negotiations.

The issue at stake arising from the UN Secretary General envoy on Cyprus Mrs. Lute’s meetings with the leaders of the two communities is an agreement on the terms of reference, which should lead to the resumption of the negotiations from the point where they had remained at Crans Montana and on the basis of the Guterres Framework.

Having in mind what the government ruling forces have been leaking in a targeted way, it doesn’t appear – at least at this stage – that the preconditions for an agreement on the terms of reference are being created.

Without a resumption of negotiations and with the passing of time without a solution, we will be left with partition, which was the long-standing vision of Rauf Denktash and serves Turkey’s goals.

With the completion of Mrs. Lute’s third round of contacts with both sides, the President of the Republic must convene a session of the National Council and brief the political forces.

AKEL wants to know where developments stand and will submit in a responsible way its own positions and views.