A climate of fear is being cultivated surrounding the efforts to resume negotiations

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2 March 2019, Nicosia

It has now become a recurring phenomenon which is precisely why it can’t be accidental. Whenever a session of the National Council convenes, a climate of fear and concern in society is cultivated surrounding the efforts to resume negotiations. This is being done through targeted, misleading leaks and corresponding statements.

What we all need to realize is that the greatest danger that exists in the face of the protracted deadlock is the consolidation of de facto partition, and not the processes for a resumption of negotiations.

The only way to avoid partition is to achieve a rupture with the deadlock and for the negotiations to continue from the point they had remained on the basis of the Guterres Framework. The resumption of the negotiations can be achieved with the agreement on terms of reference. This is what is important and the issue is at stake and we must be focused on precisely that – primarily the President of the Republic himself who is handling the Cyprus problem.