AKEL declaration on Cyprus Independence Day
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 30th September 2015, Nicosia
1st October, Cyprus Independence Day, is the culmination of many years of struggles waged and sacrifices made by our people. Although shackled, due to the Zurich-London agreements, our independence provided us with the opportunity to safeguard our freedom and as a people to receive decisive support in our relentless struggle to repel anti-Cypriot plans and machinations. Unfortunately, from the very outset the foreign conspiracies and interventions found fertile ground, investing in nationalism-chauvinism and in the treacherous activity of the extreme-Right. The result of the foreign conspiracies and betrayal was the coup d’état of the Greek junta and the EOKA B organization and the subsequent Turkish invasion and occupation, which is continuing to this day.
Fifty-five years after the proclamation of Cyprus Independence we are in the midst of a substantive phase of the negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem. The assumption by Mustafa Akinci of the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community is an encouraging development that we hope will be translated into a real positive perspective in the process of the talks underway. Dedication to what has already been agreed and the utilization of the Christofias-Talat convergences can safeguard the procedure underway from deviations, but also move things forward at a faster pace. As AKEL, as always behaving responsibly, we support the negotiation procedure, provided that it will progress based on the principles of the solution of the Cyprus that have long ago been defined collectively.
Since 1974 we are struggling to reverse the fait accompli of the occupation, liberate and reunify our country and our people and to build a happy and secure future for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins. We are struggling for a solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the United Nations resolutions and the High-Level Agreements that will be in line with International and European Law; struggling for a solution that will lead to the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus from a unitary into a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state with political equality as defined in UN resolutions; struggling for a solution providing for a united state with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship; struggling for a solution that will restore and safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots. At the same time, we are fighting to achieve a full investigation into the fate of our missing persons.
On the day of the anniversary of Cyprus Independence, AKEL pays homage to all those who fought and sacrificed their lives in defence of the independence, territorial integrity, democracy and legality in our country. AKEL honours and supports the relatives of our missing persons and enclaved people in the occupied areas, war-stricken people and refugees.
AKEL addresses a militant greeting to our people, urging it to continue the struggle until the final vindication that will stem from the solution of the Cyprus problem, which will provide for the termination of the Turkish occupation and the reunification of Cyprus and its people.
