Speech by Haris Karamanos, Central Organisational Secretary and member of the Secretariat of AKEL at the event marking the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus–AKEL

 

9 September 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Comrades, friends,

The 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus–AKEL’s existence and activity marks a special milestone. Not only in the history of our Party, but also in the modern history of Cyprus. As the General Secretary mentioned earlier on, we wish to honour this great anniversary as it deserves. But not just by looking back.

We wish to honour our history, whilst at the same time turning it into a source of strength for today and an inspiration for tomorrow.

This is the aim of the events we have planned: to pay the tribute due to the pioneering comrades and the generations who blazed new trails in difficult conditions, but also to pass on to the young generations the values, ideals, struggles and lessons of this century-long journey.

As part of the centenary celebrations, we launched a competition to design the CPC–AKEL centenary logo, an initiative that was met with great enthusiasm and attracted dozens of entries.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend our warmest thanks to the Logo Evaluation Committee, which undertook the difficult and demanding task of assessing the proposals and making the final selection. The contribution of all the Committee members was invaluable. Special thanks go to Adonis Papadopoulos, the winner of the competition and creator of the anniversary logo that will accompany and mark the Party’s 100th anniversary.

Permit me, therefore, to briefly outline some of the most significant initiatives that are already underway or will be organised in the coming period.

First and foremost, we are proceeding with the construction of a Monument to mark the Party’s 100th anniversary, outside the Central Committee’s offices. We want to create a permanent landmark. A Monument dedicated to the pioneers and the generations who wrote this history, which will also symbolise the continuity of their ideals and struggles.

On 6 November, the mass Political and Cultural Event marking the 100th anniversary will take place at the Strovolos Municipal Theatre. It will be the highlight of our celebrations, featuring Cypriot artists.

A day later, on 7 November, the International Symposium ‘The Left in the Contemporary World’ will take place. Representatives of fraternal and other parties AKEL cooperates with from countries around the world will gather in Cyprus for this significant international meeting.

The focus will be on the major challenges of our era, as well as to reply to a crucial question: what is the role, the vision and the future of the Left in the 21st century.

At the same time, in April 2027, a special centenary commemorative Album will be published, featuring a wealth of photographic and archive material.

Also of significance is the publication, by the Prometheus Research Institute, of the collective academic volume ‘Studies on the History of the Left in Cyprus: 100 Years of the Communist Party of Party–AKEL’. This is the result of a multi-year research project, which sheds light on key periods, events and aspects of the history of the Cypriot Left. The main launch of the volume will take place on 21 October at the Kastelliotissa Hall in Nicosia.

The Party’s Historical Archives occupy a special place in our plans. For years now, a major project to digitise, document and catalogue AKEL’s Archive has been underway in collaboration with the Prometheus Research Institute. To mark our centenary, this effort is being stepped up so that this invaluable historical heritage may be preserved and made accessible to researchers and future generations.

From this podium, we wish to issue an open appeal: anyone who possesses documents, photographs, letters, proclamations, audio or audiovisual material, personal testimonies or other artefacts relating to the history of the Party and the People’s Movement of the Left should get in touch with us.

Our history is not found solely in official archives. It is also found in homes, in photographs, in memories and in the personal stories of thousands of people of our Movement. And we do not want this history to be lost.

A special place in the centenary celebrations is also occupied by significant publishing initiatives, which shed light on the historical, political and cultural struggles of the Party and the People’s Movement. A volume containing the Resolutions of the Plenary Sessions of the Central Committee, the memoirs of Communist Party pioneering veteran Iosif Mavros, and a special publication featuring testimonies from pioneering women of the Left are currently being prepared. At the same time, we are proceeding with the reissue of the Collected Works of Tefkros Anthias and Theodosis Pierides, two iconic figures who dedicated their lives and work to the Left and the struggles of our people, bequeathing a valuable intellectual and cultural legacy to younger generations.

As part of the anniversary initiatives, the special 100th-anniversary Collector’s Box set has already been released, whilst from today the special 100th-anniversary Collector’s Medal is also available in limited numbers.

At the same time, a series of anniversary posters has been released.

However, we do not want the 100th anniversary to be confined solely to central events. That is precisely why we are placing particular emphasis on anniversary events at regional and local levels.

We want this anniversary to reach out to towns and communities. We want it to become a cause for the whole Party, the people and our friends.

At the same time, we want to talk about our history using contemporary means and media. To this end, we will produce a series of podcasts and video interviews, through which we will shed light on events, figures, testimonies and lesser-known aspects of our hundred-year journey. In particular, we want to build a bridge with the younger generations.

We also place particular emphasis on educational and ideological work. A series of open discussions and educational lectures will take place, whilst this year’s AKEL Ideological School, to be organised in all districts, will be dedicated to the history of our Party.

The series of commemorative articles has already begun. It began on 15 August, the Party’s anniversary, with a special supplement in our daily voice *Haravgi* marking its 100th anniversary. This initiative will continue systematically over the coming period through the newspaper’s columns.

And, finally, we are launching an initiative of particular symbolic significance and substance:

A special organisational campaign to recruit new members in honour of our 100th anniversary. Because the best way to honour those who paved the way before us is to ensure that there will be even more people to continue along that path tomorrow.

Comrades and friends,

These are just some of the key events we have planned.

Events that are all different, but with a common goal: to honour our pioneers. To preserve our history. To get to know it better. To pass it on to future generations. And, above all, to draw strength from it for the struggles that lie ahead.

Because the 100th anniversary of the CPC–AKEL is not merely a milestone. It is not the end of a long journey. It is a major milestone on a journey that continues.

With our eyes fixed on tomorrow. For the Cyprus and the world we envisage.

A world of peace, social justice and socialism.

A century of struggle. A glorious history that continues.

With the people, for the people.

Now and forever!