AKEL on the day after the Geneva talks
Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th January 2017, Nicosia
We are at the day after Geneva. Regardless of the different readings and assessments the political forces are making, the fact is that the negotiations are continuing. This is precisely where we must focus our attention on.
Everything will be judged at the negotiations.
The will, positions and proposals of every involved party will be judged at the negotiations.
It is at the negotiating table where Turkey’s intentions will be determined.
Whether we will manage to arrive at an agreed solution that will end the occupation and reunite our country and people within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation will be determined at the negotiating table.
And if nothing else, the issue of security and guarantees will be discussed in the negotiations with the participation now of Turkey, negotiations which are continuing after the Geneva conference. The territorial issue will be discussed within the framework created as a result of the submission of maps from both sides. At the same time, the negotiation must continue also with regards the remaining open issues on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem.
AKEL will not get into the process of launching accusations and aphorisms which various political forces are continuing to do. The patriotism, seriousness and responsibility of everyone isn’t determined neither by how loudly and frequently everyone raises one’s voice, nor by engaging in a game of exaggerations around patriotism.
Dangers surrounding the Cyprus problem do exist. It is logical that we all have concerns. However, dangers and concerns do not only stem from the possibility of a bad solution, but also from the perpetuation of partition and the consolidation of Turkey’s presence in Cyprus. We want to get rid of the de facto division and the presence of the Turkish occupation and this can be achieved by reaching a viable and functional solution of the Cyprus problem.
The solution can only be achieved through negotiations. There is nothing worse in politics than the preoccupation and entrapment in phobic syndromes. Negotiation demands consistency to positions of principle, but also pragmatism.
AKEL has positions and evaluates developments based on these positions. Given that AKEL is genuinely seeking to achieve a solution within the agreed framework, it will continue to act constructively and creatively, even when it has different views, submitting concrete proposals. No problem cannot and has not been solved solely through negation, rejection and the continuous invoking of dangers.
