AKEL GS on his contacts with the state and political leadership of Greece

Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7 March 2018, Nicosia

Greece is the main pillar of support in the struggle we are waging as a Cypriot people aiming at liberating our homeland. For that reason AKEL decided that we should go to Athens to have meetings with the state and political leadership of the country. We wanted to be informed first and foremost by the Greek Prime Minister with regards the various developments that affect the Cyprus problem in one way or the other, to listen to his views, as well as to the opinions of all the other forces. At the same time, we sought to put across our own views, concerns and reflections.

Within this framework, we had meetings with the Greek Prime Minister, the President of the Republic, the President of the Greek Parliament, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece, the General Secretary of SYRIZA, the President of “New Democracy” party, the President of “Potami” party and the deputy Chairpersons of PASOK and ANEL. I want to express our satisfaction with the content of the discussions we had.

At the same time, I want to state that AKEL’s intention is to continue our contacts on the Cyprus problem. We will seek to have meetings with Turkish Cypriot political parties too. We have already had one such meeting. One more meeting has been scheduled and we shall seek to organize meetings with others. We will see what other initiatives we will undertake as regards our effort to contribute towards the resumption of substantive negotiations surrounding the Cyprus problem.

I do not hide the fact that AKEL is extremely concerned about the developments in our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and of course about the fact that the Cyprus problem is entering a period of protracted stalemate. In the case of the EEZ, a drilling in Block 3 has already been postponed, while it is quite clear that Turkey will escalate its provocation.

It was said that the two vessels of “EXXON” company were due to have been in Cyprus since last week to conduct seismographic surveys. It was subsequently announced they would be here last Monday. Today is Wednesday and they haven’t come. I don’t want to draw early conclusions. I just want to point out that we weren’t the ones that had announced publicly that the research to be conducted by “EXCHON” would have proceeded in that direction. It is the government that has publicized these issues. Unfortunately, we can see that these explorations are not being implemented and this is worrying us even more because we don’t know the real reasons why this arrival isn’t taking place. It is clear, however, that Turkey will increase its provocation and escalate it in an attempt not to permit the exploitation of our natural wealth with the Cyprus problem unresolved. This is of great concern to us.

As far as the substance of the Cyprus problem is concerned, it is evident that we have entered into a prolonged period of deadlocks. The government says it is ready to negotiate and that the side that isn’t ready is the Turkish side. It even says this message is understood by the international community. I sincerely wonder and ask the government to tell us who has it heard from the international community saying that “we understand that the Greek Cypriot side is ready” and that it is Turkey or the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community who are responsible for this protracted stalemate. We haven’t heard anyone express such a similar approach.

I have to say that both Anastasiades’ speech to the House of Representatives on the day of his investiture ceremony, as well as the statements made by other government officials, send out the message that the government is not ready to enter into talks on the basis of what the Secretary-General of the United Nations is calling for. This is why the UN Secretary-General in recurring reports he has submitted, but also in statements made by his Spokespersons, says that both sides are in a period of reflection.

But even if the government’s argument that the Turkish side does not indeed want to go to negotiations is correct, why aren’t we undertaking such initiatives to expose the Turkish side’s stand?

Why aren’t we telling the Secretary-General of the United Nations openly that we are ready to continue the negotiations from where they had remained in Crans Montana and based on the framework that you have set out in order to make it harder for Turkey?

I am sorry to note that not only are the actions being taken not making it difficult for Turkey, but so far at least, are facilitating it.

I want to say something in conclusion, not in the form of a warning, but in the form of expressing a great anxiety. If things continue for a long time with a prolonged deadlock on the Cyprus problem, I am very afraid that the given situation will deteriorate even further and that the effort to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed framework will be made even more difficult, with the direct and visible danger of sliding into dangerous developments that will bring us even closer to partitionist options which are of course not acceptable to us in any shape or form.

We therefore say to Mr. Anastasiades that he should be concerned about such a possibility and that he must assume his responsibilities as the President of the Republic of Cyprus. If unfortunately things evolve in a negative direction, we will all be accountable to our history and country.

And, of course, the one who will bear the greatest responsibility will be the President of the Republic himself.

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The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou replies to journalists questions

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7 March 2018, Nicosia

It would be interesting if you could tell us your convergences with Mr. Tsipras on the Cyprus problem and your convergences with the Communist Party of Greece, given the difference you have on several issues.

AK: I am not going to say what we discussed either with the Greek Prime Minister or with any other Greek political leader. I think they themselves have every right to express their own positions public. I will express my satisfaction with what I have discussed with both of them. I’ll say a more general comment that I make about all the meetings. That is that we share the same view that we must seek to deescalate the tension. The problems either in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or as regards the solution of the Cyprus problem won’t be solved with the escalation of the tension, but with its de-escalation. And I will say that this approach was universal and expressed by all the interlocutors I met in Greece.

Concerning AKEL’s inter-party procedures. Has a dialogue began in the party membership with a timeframe set for the completion of this dialogue by Easter?

AK: The plenary session of the Central Committee of AKEL last Saturday discussed and has approved its proposal to be presented the party grass-roots membership with regards the political decision and the decision on the election campaign’s organizational issues. This decision takes the form of an introductory speech and will be transferred to the Party Base Organizations. A free reflection will take place and the results of this discussion will come back conducted in the party base organizations. It is indeed our intention that this debate must be completed before Easter. I consider that there are many pressing issues in front of us which demand the intensification of our work as a party leadership and we need to have the positions expressed by our party membership before us as soon as possible.

However, I would like to say three or four things that can be drawn from the substance of the discussions we had in the Political Bureau and Central Committee.

The first conclusion, in very general terms, is that the Party itself must be strengthened internally. We have decided towards this end to discuss a number of issues in a specific and specialized way. A lot of issues will be discussed. For example, the elaboration of policy and positions that are needed by the Auxiliary Bureaus which function as small think-tanks in the Central Committee of AKEL. Now I’ll give a random example to explain what I mean.

The second conclusion we have made is that we must make openings to society. Let me cite an example to show you what I mean. What are our relations with non-governmental organizations? What is the direction we give to AKEL’s militants, members and friends about all these issues? Today there are numerous non-governmental organizations that deal with issues affecting and influencing common people’s daily lives. Political parties cannot be indifferent, nor their members or supporters. We have an obligation to reflect on all these issues raised by non-governmental organizations and other organizations.

The third conclusion, of course, is the issue of the formulation and elaboration of policies. We have already decided to conduct some scientific studies that will be made in an effort to formulate proposals on how ordinary people’s daily life can be made better, but also studies that will help the Party to better understand society and to respond more effectively to the needs that are developing today.

Is this essentially an opening to the social groups of the Left, if you like to people without any party affiliation?

AK: It is an opening generally to the broader left, but also to Cypriot society itself.

You have expressed a concern which I believe is a concern expressed by the Cypriot people in general today. At the same time, however, the Cypriot people see that an impression had been formed that there are disagreements about approaches (on the Cyprus problem). And it so happened that the Foreign Minister was also in Greece and had roughly the same contacts as you. The question is how do we proceed from here? Who does Greece agree with? What are the next steps we should take? Does Greece agree with the next steps and with both sides, namely with AKEL and with the government?

AK: I’ll say again that I will not reply on the part of anyone to the Greek State or on behalf of the political parties in Greece. They themselves have to express their opinion. I will just repeat my complete satisfaction with the discussions we had. From there onwards, everyone can draw their own conclusions. I will say the following.

Unfortunately, time is relentless and will determine whose approaches/policies are correct and whose are wrong. It will therefore become apparent who is handling issues correctly and who is warning the government and the people of Cyprus correctly about what the consequences will be if we are stuck in a protracted stalemate, without seeking either the resumption of substantive negotiations or if Turkey constituting an obstacle to this development to be shown before the international community as being solely responsible.

Let me reiterate, because I heard the Foreign Minister this morning saying that the international community is aware of the Greek Cypriot side’s readiness and that it knows that the other side is to blame. It would be good if some were to tell us who is the one that knows. Where did the Foreign Minister see this being expressed?

On the reports that the UN Secretary-General is looking to appoint temporarily a European envoy and that this hasn’t been accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side?

AK: I don’t know anything about it, I have no information about such a development. I have heard the Foreign Ministers declaring this. I think that for him to say so the reports must be right. But I don’t know anything more.