Joint Declaration AKEL and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) – “Federation is the only way to the solution”

 

22 September 2022

During the meeting between the leaders of AKEL and CTP, the two Parties stressed the need for the resumption of the intercommunal dialogue. Despite the current negative climate at the level of the leaders of the two communities, but also in the region in general, they stressed the necessity for prudence, reason and vision to prevail in order to build lasting peace on the island and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Within this framework, the two parties strongly believe that the two sides must resume a sincere dialogue with a view to resuming formal negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the relevant resolutions of the UN as soon as possible.

Formal negotiations must be meaningful and geared towards achieving results with a sense of urgency. This objective can be achieved provided that the procedure will be bound by the convergences recorded by the two sides, the Joint Declaration of the two leaders of 11 February 2014 and the Guterres Framework dated 30 June 2017, as underlined in the UN statement following the informal meeting held in Berlin on 25 November 2019. The opening up of already agreed issues will only succeed in complicating and delaying the dialogue.

The ultimate goal must be the achievement of a political strategic agreement on the basis of the Guterres Framework for a bizonal and bicommunal federal solution with political equality, as set out in the relevant resolutions of the Security Council of the UN.

“Confidence Building Measures” and “Cooperation Proposals” must be the subject of negotiations under the auspices of the UN and within the framework of the resolutions of the UN Security Council, taking into account the rights and interests of both communities.

We consider that the ideas for a two state solution and other ideas outside the agreed basis and the existing framework are not realistic, nor viable for the future of the island. The commitment to such positions further perpetuates the status quo and the division of the island. An escalation of militarization will negatively affect the climate of peace and increase tension, and we believe that the sides must avoid it.

The Parties support the efforts to resolve day-to-day issues which must be intensified. In this context, we consider as important the role that the Technical Committees have to play on issues such as the opening of new checkpoints, the protection of our cultural heritage, joint programmes for teachers and school pupils and others.

The two Parties remain committed to support all efforts to realise the above-mentioned objectives. Within this framework, we shall intensify our cooperation aiming at the rapprochement between the two communities at all levels, cultivating a culture of peace and the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis.