AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas: It’s inconceivable that the President won’t put forth the termination of the Turkish occupation over Nuland’s urgings

 

11 April 2022, ‘Astra’ radio station

It is inconceivable that President Anastasiades won’t prioritise the solution of the Cyprus problem and the need to end the Turkish occupation in response to V. Nuland’s who called for Turkey’s involvement in the region’s energy developments and issues, AKEL’s C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas said.

Speaking to the ‘Astra Morning Edition’ and commenting on the statements of US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland on energy, he stressed that Cyprus must make use of any developments and processes that are currently taking place in the region with the aim of serving the main task for our country and people, namely the prevention of the partition of our homeland. For this reason, he pointed out, President Anastasiades should have replied to Victoria Nuland that Turkey’s involvement can only take place after the solution of the Cyprus problem and the termination of the occupation.

The aim of the US, said the AKEL C.C. Spokesperson, is to upgrade Turkey geopolitically, pardoning Erdogan for all that preceded with regards US-Turkey relations. They are also seeking to rebuild relations between Turkey and Israel in order to promote energy plans. Finally, on another level, they are also aiming to strengthen EU-NATO cooperation, which, as G.Koukoumas stressed, isn’t about any “cooperation”, but rather about the organic subordination of the EU to NATO.

Referring to the issue of the Confidence Building Measures (CBM’s), G.Koukoumas said that they should assist the solution and not substitute it. He also pointed out the danger of limiting ourselves to discussing CBM’s and the government’s proposal to legalise the Tymbou airport (in the occupied areas) and end up discussing this issue instead of the solution of the Cyprus problem. Furthermore, he added, there are political dangers, given that Ersin Tatar does not want a federal solution and will use the Tympou issue to promote the deepening the division and the illegal regime in the occupied areas.

Regarding the EastMed question, Giorgos Koukoumas said that the government and the ruling DISY party must clarify their intentions. He said that the statements of President Anastasiades and Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides are different on the issue.