AKEL calls for its proposal on the Cyprus problem to be discussed
Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, on the visit of UN Secretary General envoy on Cyprus María Angela Holguín Cuéllar
14 May 2024, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
It is very important to see what Ms Holguín will record in her report and what the UN Secretary General, and by extension the UN Security Council, will ultimately decide on the Cyprus problem.
What is certain is that with the stalemate and the stagnation surrounding the Cyprus problem does not suit us. It is a well-known fact that Turkey has been exploiting this situation for seven years now, during which the deadlock has existed, in order to impose new occupation fait accompli. We know, for example, about Turkey’s actions to open up the enclosed area of Famagusta, and I say this because we are here in the [free areas of] Famagusta region. For that reason, we must not remain passive and must take specific initiatives that will take us forward. We have been saying this for a long time. We have also said how, in our view, this can be achieved.
I reiterate that AKEL has since December 2020 submitted a specific proposal to both the previous President and the current President of the Republic on how we can move forward, in our view. Let us at least discuss this proposal. And I would like to recall that our proposal is that the energy issues in the region and in Cyprus, should be made use of without violating any “red lines”. Our proposal should at least be discussed. We believe that energy issues can, under certain conditions and circumstances, yield dynamics to break the deadlock.
I would just like to point out that just the day before yesterday Mr. Erdogan referred to the energy issues. And if we want to have a proposal on the basis of which to take an initiative and if there is a prospect through this initiative to create dynamics, it is to be able to have discussions in an area of interest to the parties involved.
At least if the Turkish side ultimately does not respond, it should be clear to the international community who is the party that does not want us to move forward and who is the party that is trying to break the deadlock and continue the negotiations from the point where they were interrupted.
14.05.2024
