AKEL CC Plenary Statement
Statement of the Press Office of the Central Committee of AKEL
At the beginning of today’s session, the Plenum of the C.C. of AKEL observed a minute’s silence in memory of Pantelis Varnavas, who apart from his trade union position and activity was for many years a member of the Central Committee of AKEL and Central Control Commission of the Party.
The Cyprus problem
The Plenum of the Central Committee dealt with the developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, the briefing President Anastasiades made yesterday at the session of the National Council and subsequent press conference that followed.
The position expressed by the President of the Republic to withdraw from the table the so-called “offers and the submission of a comprehensive plan for a solution from our side must the subject of very serious reflection by everyone, since it raises the danger Turkey bringing back partitionist positions or the possibility of third parties putting forth partitionist plans on the table of the talks.
Questions arise also with regards other references made by the President at his press conference, such as his reference to exchanges for the return of Famagusta, but also to the reference “not at this present time” and to his conviction that there is a joint consultation of the political forces as regards the Cyprus problem. The handling which a number of issues received, such as the Downer document, the letter of the President to the UN Secretary-General for the withdrawal of UN Special Representative Mr. Downer, but also the handling on the issue of Famagusta anything but point to the existence of any consultation and collective approach. In addition, question are also raised regarding the move to remove from the UN Security Council resolution a reference to the joint Christofias – Talat statement, resulting in the basis of the talks being discussed and hence our side remaining exposed.
We note with concern the fact that while President Anastasiades assured the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL during yesterday’s session of the National Council that his reference at the United Nations General Assembly to an “evolutionary federation” simply “crept into the text”, at the same time when the Foreign Minister strongly defended the content of the term, giving the impression that the long-standing position of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for an evolutionary federation has now become accepted, the position which means that we must start with a very loose probably confederal formation that will gradually unify to end up as a federal formation . Our side has never accepted this logic and the talks conducted all through the years aimed at a federal settlement from the first day.
Coupled with this, the Central Committee of the Party considers as unfortunate the reference of President Anastasiades to “electroshock treatment to shake everyone up”. Having the bitter experience of accepting the Troika’s demands for a haircut on the deposits and many others, such references should be avoided in order not to encourage anyone to make machinations that all political forces and the President himself reject.
AKEL will follow and judge all the handling of the Cyprus problem from the result with the wish that there will eventually be a successful conclusion to the upcoming talks.
Dromolaxia
Regarding the case of Dromolaxia and the arrest of two cadres of the Party, the Plenary adopted the statements made yesterday by the General Secretary of the C.C. Andros Kyprianou.
The Plenum of the C.C. of AKEL expressed the full support and solidarity of the body to its two members unjustly accused.
The Plenary of the C.C. considers that the case is developing into a political conspiracy against AKEL and its cadres aiming to discredit the Party in the eyes of the people of Cyprus and divert public opinion from the enormous existing problems for which the government Anastasiades bears heavy responsibility.
The Plenary reiterates the critical questions that remain unanswered and raise questions for every thinking citizen.
What has elapsed for the indictment for Mr. Lilli to be changed to the milder and for him to be turned from a defendant into a prosecutor?
What has intervened so that Mr. Lillis needed to testify three times and how credible is his testimony?
Why weren’t the cadres of AKEL asked first to give their own testimony to the Police and if this did not satisfy the authorities then they would proceed to arrests?
The Plenary of the C.C. of AKEL stresses that the Party will defend itself, its moral standing and that of its cadres with all legal means at its disposal.
The Plenary of the C.C. of AKEL calls on the cadres, members and voters of the Party to be vigilant, to stay calm but also resolute and turn into the protective shield of AKEL. No conspiracy can hurt the Party of the Working People. The Party will overcome this difficulty as well, as it has so many others in the almost 90 years of its life and activity. Those who accuse and vilify it should apologize if they fail to substantiate their accusations. AKEL will remain a leading force in the political and social struggles of the Cypriot people.
The Finding on the Economy
AKEL is awaiting the publication of the Findings of the Committee on the Economy to comment on it in a comprehensive manner. Of course the question remains unanswered: how is it appointed that three judges are appointed to apportion ultimately political responsibilities, given that as they themselves have decided they cannot apportion criminal or other responsibilities.
Finally, we recall that the illegality of the establishment of the Commission, which either indirectly or directly, was admitted by all. Similarly we recall the successive resignations of members of the Commission, as well as the members of its scientific support force. At the same time, we remind of the content of the questions put forth to those who went to testify and which betray a concrete prior approach.
