Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL A. Kyprianou at the commemorative event for the Hero Martyrs Costas Mishaoulis-Dervis Ali Kavazoglou
Sunday 7th April 2019, Dali, Nicosia district
We yet again honour the memory of the heroes of our people, Dervis Ali Kavazoglou and Costas Mishaoulis. We once again stand with respect and are aware of our heavy responsibility, before that final embrace drowned in blood of our two precious murdered comrades.
This April too hurts us yet again.
It reminds us of how deadly the poison of nationalism was which has poisened our people.
It reminds us of the magnitude of the betrayal that was committed against our people by domestic and external forces against it.
This April yet again makes us more determined because it highlights our duty for the common present and our common future.
It highpoints our common oath to vindicate the great sacrifices and blood shed by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in their struggle to live in peace in this small corner of the world.
“Put an end to the ordeal and suffering. Your historical duty awaits you! Struggle – but today, as tomorrow might be too late. Stop this suffering once and for all! You should live, to continue the struggle! Long live Peace! Long live Friendship!”
54 years after 11th April 1965, when the shots fired by the Turkish Cypriot fascist organization of TMT assassinated two genuine patriots, the words of Dervis Ali Kavazoglu assume even more meaning. We have to fulfill our duty. We must end the ordeal and suffering together, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who want another future for this country.
Let’s work together today before it’s too late to combat hatred and fanaticism.
Let’s build a bastion of resistance to nationalism and neo-fascism, strengthen the common struggle of the two communities and save our homeland.
Let’s leave all the dark years of confrontation behind us forever.
We are proud that our Party AKEL has taken on the task of fulfilling this obligation. AKEL created and built the movement for rapprochement on the ruins of the destruction of 1974.
We are proud that AKEL dared and dares to talk about the wounds, about the abhorrent and unspoken crimes that were committed.
We are proud that our Party was and remains the Party of all Cypriots, of all working people; the Party that speaks of two politically equal communities; the Party that declares that Cyprus belongs to its people.
AKEL believes in this vision and is fighting to realize it, through our long-standing policies on the Cyprus problem. We believe in this vision and are asserting it by taking steps that write history. One such step is the participation of a Turkish Cypriot in our ballot.
Nationalism in both communities has always made every effort to destroy anything that united Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. By serving colonialism and imperialism, nationalism was trying to kill the very idea of an independent homeland.
The bicommunal character of AKEL’s ballot expresses the continuation of our struggles to overcome the ideological and political partition which they have been trying to impose on us for decades.
It is our consistency to the political line of the unity of the people, the defense of our homeland’s independence.
It is the constant effort for the idea to be acknowledged and cultivated that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can and must govern Cyprus together in conditions of equality.
It is the constant reminder to all those who find it difficult, to understand the importance of political equality, let alone accept the idea.
It is the symbolic decision for the voice of all Cypriots, their anguish and aspiration to be heard, for a reunited Cyprus in a different Europe.
But to reply to the well-wishers as well, we shall make it clear once again.
AKEL’s bi-communal ballot does not represent a model for the solution of the Cyprus problem. It doesn’t seek to replace the Turkish Cypriot community, nor does it aim to mislead the Turkish Cypriots. The nomination of a Turkish Cypriot candidate does not have a communal orientation, nor is there an attempt to represent the community “without the community”.
Our ballot is the very clear reply to the idea disputing that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots “neither want, nor can” live together to construct their own common future together.
It is our reply to all those forces and circles who consider that the division today and partition tomorrow suits them just because their interests are enhanced.
It is the historical moment that will demonstrate that the vote can cross over, not only because of the shared past, but also in the name of our common future.
It is the moment when everyone’s consciousness will consider that it is worth voting for each other as Cypriots, not as “extensions” of others, nor as “remnants” of conflicts.
AKEL’s decision for our ballot in the Euro-elections to be bi-communal represents a political action that seeks to convey the message that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots can share power and represent their common homeland together. We therefore have a very important political battle to wage that will convey numerous messages.
The battle of the European elections is very critical for the future of Europe and Cyprus too. Things have to change, both in Europe and in Cyprus too.
Social inequality is driving people into despair and misery.
The purchasing power of households is collapsing.
Poverty is assuming mass dimensions.
Labour relations are being systematically deregulated.
Racism and xenophobia are spreading in general.
Insecurity prevails.
Neo-fascism is raising its head once again. Brute force, xenophobia, racism, populism, hatred and violence against the weak, submission to powerful interests. That’s the role neo-fascism is playing all over Europe, but in Cyprus as well. It acted as the most useful crutch for the re-election of Mr. Anastasiades, the selling off of the Cyprus Cooperative Bank, the prevalence of conservatism and backwardness in society. The Cyprus branch of the “Golden Dawn” party has been exposed. It is threatening to wage counter-attacks with “military terms”. What we all must understand is that they don’t only threaten whoever stands up to them. They threaten democracy, freedom and the prospect of this country living in peace and prosperity.
If the Cyprus problem is solved, then Cyprus will be Turkified, they say. Cyprus will be Turkified if the Cyprus problem isn’t solved. For decades, Turkey has been promoting policies that are deepening the Turkish Cypriot community’s dependence on Ankara and undermining it. A numerically small community will not endure forever to stand up to powerful Turkey. If the Right and ultra-right in the Greek Cypriot community don’t understand that, this time it will irreparably damage Cyprus.
Mr. Anastasiades, even at this stage, must comprehend the severity of the responsibility he has. Even now he must do what needs to be done, so that he won’t go down in history as the President of partition. We call on him to cease accusing AKEL of supposedly urging him to make further concessions. He will never find anywhere not even a one such proposal. On the contrary, he will find everywhere the warnings we have been issuing for a long time and developments that have unfortunately vindicated us. That is why we call him even now to show determination, to take initiatives and act so that it is clear to everybody that the Greek Cypriot side is seeking with consistency for the solution of the Cyprus problem. We call on him to take initiatives that will annul Turkey’s position for two states, and not pave the way for such positions to come to the fore.
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will only be able to count on the future if it is safeguarded that we shall live this future together within the framework of a solution that will end the occupation and colonialization.
A solution that will restore the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus.
A solution that will be based on the United Nations resolutions, the High-Level Agreements, International and European Law.
A solution that would demilitarize Cyprus and exclude any guarantees or intervention rights in the internal affairs of our country by foreign powers.
A solution that will reunite the land, the people, the institutions and the economy within the framework of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as described in the texts of the United Nations.
A solution that will lead to a united state, a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus.
Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together can put an end to the ordeal, turn the page and together write a new history for this country. Together we can reunify our homeland. Let’s relive the photographs from the common struggles we have waged and become what we expect. All of us and so many others, lets become a powerful movement of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who want this country to be reunited, to live in peace and to progress.
We are persisting and shall continue to persist.
This country is ours!
We do not give it away to anyone!
This country is ours! And we will reunite it!
We will become the path for our common and happy future!
Long live Cyprus!
Yasasin Kibris!
