AKEL General Secretary statements after meeting with CTP
Cyprus News Agency CNA, 16th November 2016
The wish for further progress to be recorded in the new round of talks in Mont Peleran was expressed on Wednesday by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou and the newly elected Chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Tufan Erhurman.
Mr. Kyprianou and a delegation of AKEL, including the member of the Political Bureau of AKEL Toumazos Tselepis, traveled to the offices of CTP in occupied Nicosia and had a meeting with Mr. Erhurman just days after his election to the highest party post successor to Mehmet Ali Talat. Before the meeting with AKEL, Mr. Erhurman participated in the briefing of Turkish Cypriot parties by the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci.
In statements after the meeting and answering questions about the expectations from the new leaders’ meeting in Mont Peleran, the General Secretary of AKEL wished that the good atmosphere that existed continues and for such progress to be made “that will allow us to go to the next stage”. On his part, Mr. Erhurman wished both leaders to show “courage, creativity and progress.”
Congratulating Mr. Erhurman on his election, Mr. Kyprianou referred to a fruitful discussion, during which, as he said, views were exchanged on the current phase of the Cyprus problem.
“It is our common view that there has been progress recorded in the efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem, but a lot of effort still needs to done so that we will be able to reach an agreement,” said General Secretary of AKEL.
He continued, saying that the two parties, AKEL and CTP, are always fighting for the reunification of the country, and agreed to continue this effort at this critical juncture.
Andros Kyprianou also said that they will continue their contacts, exchanging views on how they can contribute to the efforts of the two leaders to reach agreement on the difficult issues which lie ahead.
Mr. Kyprianou said that only with the solution of the Cyprus problem can there be a future and a perspective for the country, otherwise, he added, the consequences will be incalculable.
Asked if the goal of a solution has moved for 2017, Mr. Kyprianou said AKEL’s desire is to solve the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, but added that such a development doesn’t just depend on the time. “I hope that we will manage to agree on common political positions and then we will have an agreement,” he said.
As to AKEL’s stance on a possible referendum, Mr. Kyprianou said “We very much want to say yes,” but added that this would depend on the content of the agreement. For this reason, he continued, it is important for one community to understand the concerns of the other, so as to come to an agreement that will allow us to say “Yes”.
With regards the issue of guarantees and security and how there a convergence can be achieved on these issues, Mr. Kyprianou said that “We are not the negotiators,” but added that AKEL will try to contribute towards overcoming certain problems by submitting ideas and opinions to the two leaders. Furthermore, he added that the security issue was not discussed during the current meeting.
