A multiparty international conference only when an agreement is within range
Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou
“HARAVGI” newspaper, 30th August 2016
If the gap on the issue concerning security is very big and we go to a multiparty conference then such a conference would fail, the General Secretary of AKEL stressed yesterday in an interview to the 3rd Programme of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation RIK. Commenting on the remarks made by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, Andros Kyprianou reiterated AKEL’s long-standing position that the two leaders must reach within range of an agreement aiming at bridging the great difference so that we can go to a multiparty conference on the issue of security. The General Secretary of AKEL considers that the presence of the Republic of Cyprus is essential in such a conference. Andros Kyprianou himself characterized the issue of security as extremely important, criticizing Turkey which continues to seek a significant role and say on this issue. Indeed he noted that Turkey “remains dogmatically insistent on the guarantees”, wondering whether if the European Union would like one of its member-states to have guarantees from forces/powers that are not EU members.
Andros Kyprianou commented that while it is positive that Turkey is discussing the issue of the guarantees, on the other hand Turkey itself is limiting the framework of the discussion by submitting that it will maintain the guarantees. He called on Turkey to abandon behaviours that belong to another age.
With regards the briefing of the political leadership and the criticism President Anastasiades is facing, the General Secretary of AKEL noted that there could be a better briefing, but confidentiality is also necessary in the current phase of the talks, which is at a critical stage. He called upon the President of the Republic to negotiate on the basis of the framework agreed by the National Council. In the event of developments on the Cyprus problem and we are led to a referendum then time must be given to discuss developments “in depth and comprehensively”.
In his latest statements last Saturday Mr. Akinci, returning to the occupied areas from Istanbul, said that it is possible to achieve an agreement for a solution by the end of the year provided that the Greek Cypriot side didn’t make the mistake of submitting “unfeasible demands”, according to his expression.
The General Secretary of AKEL pointed out that Mr. Akinci’s behavior does not correspond to the critical situation, noting that the Turkish Cypriot leader is harming the ongoing effort. He stated that while Mr. Akinci is urging the Greek Cypriot side not to submit “red lines” he himself is doing so, such as for example, the guarantees of Turkey.
