AKEL denounces the intention of the government to join NATO programme

 

Written statement by Costas Christodoulides, Head of the International and European Affairs Department of AKEL

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11th March 2014, Nicosia

 

AKEL considers as completely wrong the amendments submitted by the governing Democratic Rally party, the Democratic Party and the Socialdemocratic EDEK party in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on the Report concerning Turkey’s accession course which welcomed the Republic of Cyprus’ intention to join the NATO programme “Partnership for Peace”.

We stress two points: For the first time these parties have officially recognize that the Partnership is a NATO programme. For a long time they were misleading the people that this was supposedly a pillar of the EU and part of our obligations.

Second, with this position not only does Turkey not come under pressure in the long-term as they claim, but our country will be prey to the appetites of NATO interests and plans; interests which use Turkey as the big player in their imperialist pursuits in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Finally, all the political forces instead of debating about NATO should be struggling to correct the negative aspects of the Report which will be voted on this Wednesday at the plenary of the European Parliament.