Interview with the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou “In AKEL’s view, the dilemma is federation or partition”

 

Saturday 12^th September 2020, Greek daily newspaper “EFSYN”

“The solution cannot be anything other than a solution based on bi-zonal, bi-communal federation”

• The Cyprus problem is in a profound stalemate and the UN is warning that the status quo is not sustainable. Is this a usual prophecy of disaster or something else?

AK: That the status quo isn’t sustainable does not need to be pointed out to us, because we live it on a day-to-day basis. We live in a small homeland together with a formation (Note: the illegal regime in the occupied territories) that is arming itself and being colonalised uncontrollably. If we do eventually have a border with Turkey (in the event of partition) in our very own homeland, then at some point the situation will explode.

• The situation today is already chaotic. What is the root cause of the three-year stagnation (on the Cyprus problem) and why has there been no positive mobility whatsoever registered?

AK: It is an undeniable fact that Turkey is constantly provoking problems in the region with its aggressive stance and actions. Its intransigence regarding aspects of the Cyprus problem has been longstanding. Given this, the Greek Cypriot side must convince the international community that it is ready to enter a dialogue with sincerity. It should push for the resumption of the talks. I am very afraid that this is not happening. Unfortunately, not because of what Mr. Anastasiades did, but because of all that he didn’t do, questions are being raised concerning his real intentions, whilst international interest for the solution of the Cyprus problem is diminishing.

“The solution must lead to a united state – a continuity of the Republic of Cyprus”

• More than three years have passed since the last effort was undertaken by the United Nations. What do you know about that fateful evening at Crans Montana? What really did happen and everything broke down and collapsed?

AK: The question is not what anyone says. On the one hand there is the narrative being presented by Mr. Anastasiades, which no one else shares, and on the other hand we have what is actually recorded in the Report submitted by the UN Secretary General, who, among other things, credits Turkey for adopting a “positive stand”, something which Mr. Anastasiades neither openly, nor behind the scenes, dared to question.

• Why is there a lack of will to go “the last mile” (reference to the remark by the UN Secretary General in his Report)? How will Cyprus get out of the vicious circle?

AK: AKEL insists that the most important thing right now is the resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem from the point where they had been interrupted at the Crans Montana conference on Cyprus, on the basis of the 2014 Joint Declaration, the convergences that had been recorded up to the Crans Montana conference and the Guterres Framework of 30th June. As AKEL, we insisted that the informal document on the implementation of the agreement should also have been part of the basis for conducting the negotiations.

Things indeed may really not be able to proceed up until the “elections” (in the occupied territories) in October, but according to the appeals issued by the UN Secretary General that have been reiterated recently, the period that elapses mustn’t be wasted. This period of time should be used for the preparation of the negotiations and improvement of the atmosphere.

Initiatives should be taken to present to citizens the benefits of reunification. What has been agreed and the provisions of the sought solution should also be analysed (to the people). This should have been done a long time ago anyway. At this given stage, however, this is even more imperative so that we can reverse the climate. We should also demonstrate our determination to proceed towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

The solution of the Cyprus problem cannot but provide that Turkey – its troops and guarantees – will withdraw from our island and that we will be free to be the true masters of our own homeland. The solution cannot be anything other than a solution, on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship, a single international personality and political equality of the two communities, as defined in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations. The solution must lead to a united state – a continuity of the Republic of Cyprus. The solution is the only way for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to be optimistic about their future and the future of their children.

• Theoretically, the Greek Cypriot leadership and the other stakeholders are committed to a bizonal, bi-communal federation. However words declarations are one thing, deeds and actions are something else. Which forces and circles are flirting with the partition of Cyprus and how much do they resonate with public opinion in both communities?

AK: The official position of the Republic of Cyprus is the solution of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. There are political parties that have renounced this position.

In AKEL’s view, the dilemma is federation or partition. Federation will give our people the prospect of putting an end to the consequences of the invasion and occupation and looking to the future, the prospect of jointly building their future in a peaceful homeland, working together for progress and prosperity. On the other hand, partition means the beginning of new painful suffering and catastrophes.

• How valid and timely is a federal reunification? Certain forces and circles say that it’s better to have a Greek Cypriot but recognized Republic – though divided –than to become one of the two communities and share power.

AK: What these forces and circles don’t understand is that we won’t be left with even half of our homeland because inevitably, when Turkey succeeds in achieving partition, it will gradually seek to expand. Where will it expand towards? To the free areas. These ideas are dangerous. These concepts will simply serve the goal of the invasion.

• There is mobility 9on the Cyprus problem), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently visited Cyprus…

AK: The visit of the Russian Foreign Minister confirmed the positions of principles upheld by the Russian Federation on the Cyprus problem; positions that support the struggle of the Cypriot people for a solution and reunification. Russia’s support for other sectors, such as the economy, has also been reaffirmed.

On the occasion of this visit, we once again urged the Anastasiades government to realize that Cyprus cannot pin all its hopes on one power, putting in danger our traditionally friendly relations with Russia and other countries that are important to the cause of Cyprus, in order to satisfy the demands put forth by the US.

• What do you expect from Europeans in view of the upcoming summit on Turkey?

AK: Nikos Anastasiades himself speaks about the need for substantial sanctions. Our assessment is that such sanctions cannot exist that are effective. The EU has been imposing sanctions on Russia for decades now, but these sanctions haven’t achieved anything. Have we seen anything change on the part of Turkey? Sanctions only satisfy people’s sense of justice. They do not yield any substantive results. That is precisely why we believe that the priority is the de-escalation of the situation and to create the preconditions for waging a meaningful dialogue on the problems that Turkey is provoking in Greece, but also the resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem, under the auspices of the United Nations.

• Why is there no catalyst for a solution and reunification in Cyprus?

AK: Because so far no preconditions exist to go “the last mile”. That is to say, for conducting talks in good faith and to move forward.

• Is Europe and accession to blame, is it the underwater wealth that has become a curse?

AK: Turkish intransigence has always been an enormous obstacle. All that you mention are factors that our side must make use of in order to reach a solution. Unfortunately, it is pursuing it in the wrong way, provoking further tension.

• How do you see the current climate of war? Is it a bluff in view of negotiations or are we heading towards a conflict?

AK: The tension that is escalating means danger. So long as the Cyprus problem is not solved, the danger will always exist.

• Are there solutions with Erdogan’s Turkey or are we doomed as eternal enemies and are we preparing for the worst?

AK: There is no other option before us, no other way but to go to talks for a solution of the Cyprus problem. It isn’t Sweden or Canada that is occupying half of our homeland. It’s Turkey, so we have to talk to them. If we do not talk, we will simply go to partition.

Elections 2021-2023

• We are entering election years in Cyprus. How will they evolve until the 2023 presidential elections?

AK: We are primarily interested in the result of the parliamentary elections that will take place in May 2021. We will seek to make AKEL as strong as possible so that it can represent the pole rallying forces for the progressive change in the country in the 2023 presidential elections.

The phenomenon of corruption in Cyprus

• International transparency indicators have been declining sharply in recent years. What is the international image of Cyprus?

AK: According to the updated figures released by the World Bank which record the governance indicators of each country, Cyprus registered during the five year period 2013 to 2018 the biggest increase in levels of corruption across the whole of the EU. This is the image that our country emits internationally, unfortunately.

• What is your position on the “golden passports”? Why did you not exercise control over the government as an opposition for so long?

AK: We have stated many times that we are not against the program. What we are against is the abuse of the program, its outstretching, and the practice of indiscriminately granting passports to anyone who can pay for it, without the careful examination of who that person is. That’s how we ended up giving passports to persons on the international wanted list. All this points to interwoven interests and corruption.

As an opposition party, we have been raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament for almost four years.

• How can Cyprus refute the international and European criticism it is coming under?

AK: It is up to the government to admit the mistakes that have been made, to take responsibility and to act in a way that lifts the dark clouds around the issue of the illicit enrichment of cronies, the conflict of interests and the non-transparency with which it is handling the passports for investment program and other issues so far.

• Where have the Attorney General and independent authorities been for so long? Can the justice system of Cyprus clear up the situation?

AK: The appointment of a committee to investigate the matter has already been announced. Let’s see what the results of its investigation will yield and we will come back to the issue.

Rapprochement with the Turkish Cypriots

• The crossing points and communication today in Cyprus have in effect ceased. What else is Cyprus conveying today other than partition?

AK: As long as there are barbed wires of division and checkpoints, we will be emitting division and fatally partition. Our unwavering goal is to tear down the barbed wires of division and checkpoints.

• Who doesn’t want trust and cooperation (between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots)? Why weren’t they used for so many years to build relationships?

AK: There is nationalism and chauvinism on the one hand and the barbed wires of division on the other. On the opposing pole, AKEL, the movement for rapprochement of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, has taken steps throughout these decades and has achieved many, many things, and indeed during difficult times.

• What importance do you attach to the result of the vote that will take place in the occupied territories on 11^th October?

AK: It is extremely important to be talking to a leader of the Turkish Cypriot community who accepts both in words and in practice the solution of the Cyprus problem, the solution of federation to the Cyprus problem.

• What do you say to those who argue that “Akinci and Tatar are the same”?

AK: The negative positions of Mr. Tatar are well-known, which set him apart from Mr. Akinci. Just as we are not all the same in the Greek Cypriot community, so not everyone is the same in the Turkish Cypriot community.