AKEL on the dinner of the two leaders
Statement by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd April 2017, Nicosia
The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL called upon to comment on the outcome of the dinner of the two leaders stated the following:
“For sure the result is negative. It doesn’t surprise us because we consider that a tension has been created which needs an effort to overcome it. Our position is that the efforts must continue to overcome the situation that has been formed and for substantive negotiations to begin.
We must not continue in the way the negotiations were evolving previously.
AKEL will continue its efforts in this direction. I hope and wish everyone’s stand will be positive so that we will manage to resume negotiations as soon as possible.
Of course for AKEL to be able to express a comprehensive view, you realize that we must first be briefed by the President of the Republic. So pending this thorough briefing we will be cautious as regards our position.”
In reply to a question whether the briefing will be made through the convening of a National Council, the General Secretary of AKEL said he doesn’t know what the President’s plans are.
Furthermore, in reply to a question if he spoke with the President of the Republic, the General Secretary of AKEL replied that:
“I spoke with the President, but if the convening of a meeting of the Heads of the National Council isn’t possible then we will seek to have a meeting with the President of the Republic.”
Replying to an observation that the Turkish Cypriot leader seems to be insisting on the position for a resumption of the talks after 7th April, provided that the amendment regarding the Enosis referendum is approved, the General Secretary of AKEL said:
“I repeat that Mr. Akinci’s stand is counterproductive. He must understand that if he really wants to resume negotiations he must respect his interlocutors too.”
