Interview with Giorgos Loucaides, AKEL Political Bureau member
16th May 2021, ‘Haravgi’ newspaper
- ‘Anastasiades remained unrepentant even in the Geneva talks’
- ‘Initiatives need to be taken towards the UN and the EU, as well as support for the Turkish Cypriot forces struggling for a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution’
- ‘It was to be expected that Turkey would try to exploit Anastasiades’ flirtation with a two state solution’
- ‘For the first time we have institutional corruption starting from the very top’
- ‘The forthcoming election offers the opportunity to change course, taking the country out of the deadlocks and ruins left behind by the Anastasiades-DISY government’
Q: How do you assess developments on the Cyprus problem?
GL: Although we went to Geneva with very low expectations, the collapse of the informal five-party conference and the failure to achieve the goal of resuming substantive negotiations naturally generated additional disappointment. The responsibility for this development lies with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, as their insistence on sovereign equality and a two state solution left no room for any progress to be recorded in the procedure. Even though it was anticipated, we consider as positive the fact that Secretary General of the UN, bound by the terms of his mandate, rejected the unacceptable Turkish demands.
With the situation that has evolved, there are two important dangers: First, the continuation of the stalemate, accompanied by the implementation of fait accompli in Famagusta, the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or elsewhere, which will bring us even closer to the final partition of Cyprus.
Secondly, the danger of the pursuit of finding a common ground between the Turkish demand for sovereign equality and the convergence recorded for a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, in a way that would lead us to a confederal formation. That is, to an anachronism of the 19th century, which, where it was actually applied, collapsed completely.
Nikos Anastasiades is not blameless for the unprecedented negative situation surrounding the Cyprus problem. Quite the opposite, as we have frequently denounced, he bears very grave responsibilities. It was to be expected that Turkey would attempt to exploit to the very end Nikos Anastasiades’ flirtation with a two state solution. It was to be expected that Turkey will continue to exploit the destructive handlings that have been made in recent years, which, among other things, facilitated the imposition of unprecedented Turkish fait accompli against our country, the assumption of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community by partitionist Tatar against Akinci, while these handlings resulted in a unique opportunity being missed to achieve an agreed solution to the Cyprus problem that would free us from guarantees, intervention rights and occupation troops.
Even more so since even in Geneva Nikos Anastasiades remained unrepentant, questioning convergences that he himself had accepted, such as that of a single positive Turkish Cypriot vote in the Council of Ministers. An aspect that we are very afraid did not convince the UN Secretary General of the Greek Cypriot side’s political will, with the real danger of leading to the assessment that both sides appeared uncompromising in Geneva.
The stand taken by the President of the Republic resulted in facilitating all those seeking to exert pressure for a common ground to be found by changing our side’s position on the issue of sovereignty, an approach that as AKEL we will never accept.
Q: The Secretary General of the UN has left open the possibility of convening a new conference in a few months. How can this period be used?
GL: The most effective way to repel Turkish machinations is to show consistency and a strong commitment to what has been agreed. Initiatives should also be taken in all directions: the UN Secretariat and the permanent members of the UN Security Council, European Union, other international and regional organizations, etc. The pursuit of a direct and clear connection between the positive EU agenda with Turkey with its obligations related to Cyprus and the position that the latter will take in the UN initiative for a resumption of substantive negotiations remains crucial.
At the same time, Nikos Anastasiades, from now onwards, must act in a way that strengthens those forces in the occupied territories struggling for a solution of bi-zonal bi-communal federation, against the partitionist policies of Tatar and Ankara.
It goes without saying that AKEL will continue and intensify its own initiatives towards this end, which, however, cannot replace the role of the Greek Cypriot negotiator, let alone when his stand is undermining our own efforts too.
Q: What are AKEL’s priorities for the period ahead of us?
GL: As we have done in all previous years, as well as during the pandemic, we shall continue struggling to safeguard the rights of all those affected by the pandemic, but also by the delays shown by the government ruling forces and the policies they have pursued since the beginning of their administration to the detriment of the many disadvantaged.
In addition to the rights of workers, especially the vulnerable who are not protected by collective agreements, we will continue and intensify our struggle to ensure the protection and rights of small and medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed, the young generation which has been condemned for the first time to live worse than the previous generation, so that we can ensure their right to dignified work and housing.
We will remain the voice of the vulnerable groups of the population, the voice of the people of culture, considered secondary importance by this government.
We will continue to demand the restoration of the rights of borrowers, which were brutally curbed by the government ruling forces in order to reinforce the arbitrariness and unfair and irregular practices of the banks.
We will remain at the forefront of the struggle to support the public health system, which has been underfunded for years, and to address the problems posed by the great social gain of the National Health Scheme.
We shall continue to support public education, which has also been undermined by the actions and omissions of the government ruling forces.
We shall continue to be at the forefront in protecting the environment and our cultural heritage, also victims of numerous private interests and the government’s tolerance or support of the interests.
Q: How can the phenomena of corruption and interwoven interests be tackled?
GL: With zero tolerance and by strengthening transparency, scrutiny and accountability mechanisms. Through the strengthening of the rule of law and enhancing checks and balances, which must exist in every state governed by the rule of law. Through the protection and strengthening of institutions. In other words, everything that the Anastasiades-DISY government does not do should be done, which, as a rule, acts in the exactly the opposite direction, undermining the rule of law and institutions with which it has repeatedly clashed with.
They have dismissed or led Central bankers, the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police were dismissed to resign. They announced a criminal investigation against the former Attorney General when he decided to prosecute the “excellent of the excellent” former Attorney General Rikkos Erotokritos, whilst when the Auditor General belatedly tried to exercise control over the investment for passports program they are still trying, to this day, to stop him from doing and to dismiss him accusing him of misconduct.
It is the first time that we have institutional corruption that starts from the very top and goes down to the members of the Council of Ministers, who as regards the naturalization program in particular remain irreparably exposed for a blatant conflict of interest.
Q: What message do you want to send to citizens?
GL: Every citizen must put his/her hand on their heart and soberly evaluate all the facts. The forthcoming electoral contest is crucial and of decisive importance for our country’s future and prospects. It offers the opportunity to change course by taking the country out of the deadlocks and ruins left behind by the Anastasiades-DISY government.
With a strong AKEL we can more effectively achieve the Cyprus we all deserve.
