AKEL ON DEVELOPMENTS FOR A RESUMPTION OF A NEGOTIATION PROCESS
Statement by Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Press Spokesman
As the contacts for a resumption of a negotiation procedure are intensifying on the Cyprus problem, the need for a collective consultation with all the political forces is a pressing need, as well as the greatest possible unity, aiming always at achieving a just and viable solution. We regret to point out that, so far at least, we have not been briefed about these developments.
It is obvious that the Turkish Cypriot side and Ankara are methodologically trying to impress and win the acclaims. We recall that the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan did not fulfil his pledge to respect the agreed basis and accept the substantive convergences that had been reached between Christofias and Talat, eventually abandoning the negotiation table. Now, all of a sudden he states that he is ready to continue the negotiation from where we had left it.
On the other hand, our own side, even now when the myth propagated about supposed concessions made by Christofias has collapsed as the Downer document showed too, avoids clarifying its position. In addition, on the initiative of our own side the joint Christofias-Talat statements has been removed from the last resolution of the United Nations Security Council; statements where for the first time the Turkish Cypriot side had accepted a single sovereignty, single international personality and a single citizenship. Currently our side is trying to redefine the basis of the negotiations.
We hope that eventually a joint statement will be agreed which of course must reaffirm the commitment for a solution based on a united single state, with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, that would enable the resumption of the negotiations.
We once again urge the President of the Republic, even at this stage, to exhibit a collective handling of the issue because despite the erroneous actions taken so far, everything will be judged at the negotiating table. Only through unity and collective consultation can we tackle the danger of the imposition of unacceptable machinations and serve the goal of a solution based on principles that will reunify the state and our people.
