AKEL-PCP Meeting in Lisbon
AKEL C.C Press Office, 25th June 2015, Nicosia
The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou met today with the General Secretary of the C.C. of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) Jerónimo de Sousa within the framework of AKEL’s official visit to Portugal on the invitation of PCP.
At the meeting, which took place at the central offices of the C.C. of PCP in Lisbon, the General Secretary the Portuguese Communist Party expressed once again PCP’s solidarity with the struggle of the Cypriot people for a solution and the reunification of Cyprus. On his part, the General Secretary of AKEL called for Turkey’s practical contribution so that the ongoing negotiations on the Cyprus problem will have a positive outcome.
Furthermore, the two leaders exchanged views and experiences on common problems facing the peoples of Cyprus and Portugal as a result of to the EU-IMF Memoranda and policies being implemented by the right-wing governments of the two countries. In both countries, an increase in poverty, unemployment and debt is being registered, while at the same time, education, health and labour relations are under attack.
The General Secretary of the Portuguese Communist Party confirmed his intention to visit Cyprus, while AKEL GS Andros Kyprianou presented the symbol of 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of Cyprus-AKEL to the Portuguese Communist Party as a sign of the mutual respect and fraternal relations between the two Parties. In addition, he also underlined the identity of views between AKEL and the Portuguese Communist Party on numerous issues.
The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL speaking to the Portuguese media said it is the common position of the two Parties to resist the anti-social policies of the European Union. He also requested the support of the Portuguese parliamentary parties for the solution of the Cyprus problem, pointing out that a just solution based on federation will generate growth in the Cyprus economy. In response to a question the General Secretary of AKEL stated that there is a similarity in the treatment of Cyprus and Greece by the EU and that AKEL supports the assertive stance of the Greek government.
In the afternoon the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL will meet with the Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament Assunção Esteves and with other parliamentary parties of the country.
