Interview with AKEL Parliamentary Leader Giorgos Loukaides

 

We have low expectations for developments on the Cyprus problem

Sunday 23 July 2023, “Haravgi” newspaper

• The government’s appeal for unity is nothing more than a lame excuse to camouflage the enormous provocation it has caused to the feelings of every democratic citizen
• AKEL’s strength in the European Parliament will be the force of progress, the working people and young generation of Cyprus, defending our national interests
• Government, DISY and the parties backing the government are following Anastasiades’ line on foreclosures
• AKEL will continue with even greater determination on the foreclosure issue to put political pressure on the government and the parties pursuing this unacceptable attitude and behaviour

QUESTION: For yet another year we have seen the official state honoring the Commandos who attacked the Presidential Palace in the 1974 coup d’état, a practice followed by the Anastasiades administration under the pretext of ‘forging unity’…Are we perhaps a global exception?

GL: Yes, what is happening in our country is beyond human comprehension. The appeal issued for unity is nothing more than a lame excuse to camouflage the provocation to the feelings of every democratic citizen in our country. Not only does this not promote unity, but it brings back outdated divisive attitudes and practices.

Unfortunately, Nikos Christodoulides and his government are continuing on this matter – as on other issues too – from where the Anastasiades administration left off. It will act – as it itself had declared during the election campaign – to be fair, that it will be a continuation of the previous government.

This does not diminish the provocation on its part. It does, however, increase the burden of responsibility on the parties that elected and support him, which have shown a particular tolerance and adaptability.

QUESTION: All this is happening at a time when the Cyprus problem is still in a prolonged stalemate. The President speaks of mobility on the part of the UN and the EU. As AKEL, do you see any mobility?

GL: You are correct that this is the narrative that the government is promoting in the mass media. We have no official briefing, as the National Council has not been convened yet. If only things could be like that. But we have low expectations, not because of the rhetoric emanating from Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership, which unfortunately remains unchanged, but because much remains to be done.

If, on the other hand, we see the glass half full, the return of the Euro-Turkish agenda to the forefront is a positive sign. Erdogan’s public differentiation on the strategic orientation of Turkish foreign policy can also be seen as positive. Similarly, to the extent that the Cyprus problem is not left behind, the Greece-Turkey approach and dialogue is also considered positive.

QUESTION: AKEL has once again submitted to the current President its proposal aimed at creating momentum for the resumption of negotiations. Where do you think we should focus our attention as the dangerous deadlock continues?

GL: These July days are such that I feel the need to stress first of all that we have a minimum debt to those who sacrificed their lives for our country and the future generations, to do everything in our power to liberate and reunite our island and people.

Is this path easy? No, it was and is difficult, a path full of difficulties and adversities. Does it depend on us alone? Of course not, but whatever does depend on us, we must do it.

The safest way of going through the complications is, on the one hand, to stick firmly and be consistent to what has been agreed and to the body of work of the negotiations recorded so far. On the other hand, by putting forward a positive agenda with energy as a priority. But also by waging a friendship, cooperation and solidarity offensive with the Turkish Cypriot community. In the same context, the European dimension of the Cyprus problem must be exploited to the full, but without any illusions. This is how we can hope to break the deadlock.

QUESTION: Next year local government and European elections will take place. What are AKEL’s objectives?

GL: We have already began our preparation and work for the European and local elections. We have outlined the political framework and the stakes for each of them.

AKEL and Local Government in our country are synonymous, both in terms of the institution’s development over time and of the progress of local communities and for the quality of life of our fellow citizens. The aim of electing as many Mayors, local Community heads, Municipal and Local Community councilors, as well as many members of School Boards, as possible within the context of a reformed local government is crucial for the further development of local communities. For green, clean and humane cities and communities, sensitive to the needs of all our fellow citizens.

With regards the European elections, just last Wednesday we discussed on the basis of a comprehensive document in the plenary of the Central Committee and have underlined the need, among other things, for AKEL to come out stronger than in the previous parliamentary elections, retaining the two seats it holds in the European Parliament.

As has been the case for two decades now, AKEL’s strength in the European Parliament is the force of progress, of the working people and of the young generation. It is the force defending our national interests through and from our Group in the European Parliament, the Group of the Left, which is the most consistent and timeless ally of the Republic of Cyprus and our people in the struggle for liberation and reunification.

We must also not forget that the strength of the Left in the elections will also send messages internally, to the government and beyond.