AKEL on the President of the Republic’s speech to the UN General Assembly

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 27 September 2018, Nicosia

As a first reaction to the President of the Republic’s speech at the UN General Assembly, AKEL notes the divergence between the findings and positions which Mr. Anastasiades expressed on various issues, with the policies being promoted and implemented by his own Government.

The President of the Republic referred to the migration issue, noting – correctly – that the root causes must be addressed. His government, however, is turning towards pursuing wrong directions to tackle the problem and from time to time is flirting with racist references.

The President correctly referred to the poverty, destitution, hunger and inequality that plague the world, but his government remains focused on pursuing neoliberal policies that generate poverty, destitution and humiliate people and their culture.

The President spoke about the need to readapt the policies that invest in the military/arms industry and to put an end to expansionism, but his government has never raised such objections, neither in the European Union, nor anywhere else.

We share the President’s reflection as regards the passage of time without a solution of the Cyprus problem. We note, however, that the policy he has followed after the Crans Montana conference doesn’t highlight this reflection.

Finally, we point out that the President once again avoided naming the agreed basis of the solution and merely referred to the relevant UN resolutions.