The Turkish vessel “Barbaros” is roaming, no one is reacting and the government thinks it is pursuing a multidimensional policy

Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou

2 March 2019, “Astra” radio station

With the Cyprus problem unresolved it will be very difficult to make use of the Cyprus’ natural wealth, the General Secretary of AKEL pointed out.

Speaking to “Astra” radio station, Andros Kyprianou stressed that no one from the international community is reacting to the moves of the Turkish research vessel “Barbaros”. A.Kyprianou noted that the Foreign Ministry’s reference that the government has succeeded in pursuing a multidimensional foreign policy in contrast to the past can only be considered a joke.

He added that the government remembers the Arab countries and Russia only when it needs them.

Mr. Kyprianou said that the way the government is exercising its foreign policy is isolating Cyprus from its traditional friends and is tying Cyprus even more to the chariot of the West.

The General Secretary of AKEL stated that we should maintain good relations with the US and it is naive to think that the Cyprus problem can be solved without the participation of the United States, but they are not the only force.

He added that there is Russia and China too which the government must try to involve in this effort.

Mr. Kyprianou also characterised as politically naïve the notion that we can develop energy cooperation by excluding Turkey forever.

He underlined that in such a case, the only thing that will be provoked is permanent instability and a lasting danger for the wider region.

AKEL believes that the government should be constantly calling on Turkey to help towards the solution of the Cyprus problem and by doing so it could then become part of the wider co-operation on energy.

As for the National Council meeting, Mr. Kyprianou criticized President Anastasiades for creating theatrics so that some parties would make negative statements on the Cyprus problem.

Furthermore, A.Kyprianou said that the reference that the UN Secretary General envoy on Cyprus Mrs. Lute is trying to satisfy the Turkish side’s positions isn’t the case and that when Mr. Anastasiades realised that some reacted, he tried to mend things, he said characteristically.

In another development, AKEL’s General Secretary said the government is improvising on energy issues and doesn’t know how to turn Cyprus into a regional energy hub.

The fact, he added, that we did not proceed with the construction of a natural gas liquefaction terminal (LNG) has deprived Cyprus of the possibility to host stocks from neighbouring countries.

He noted that the findings that have been made are very important, but the point is to make use of them.

Regarding the issue of the hydrocarbons fund, Mr. Kyprianou said that income would only be raised when the fund will have revenues of EUR 6 billion, which means that this may take round about 15 years.

As for the report commissioned on the Cyprus Cooperative Bank, he said he would wait to see the report’s finding.