Akinci positions for derogations from the acquis and guaranteed majorities of property ownership and population should have been avoided

 

Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 7th October 2015, Nicosia

 

The negotiation procedure on the Cyprus problem is at a crucial point. At the centre of the discussions is the critical and complex property issue. Progress on this chapter will determine the fate of the current procedure. It is for this reason that both sides must act very carefully during this period.

Mustafa Akinci’s positions in favour of derogations from the acquis communautaire and for guaranteed majorities of property ownership and population should have been avoided because they are not helpful, neither to the procedure underway, nor for the substance. AKEL’s position on these issues is very clear: We do not accept permanent derogations, or guaranteed majorities of property ownership and population. We adhere to the Christofias – Talat convergences that all Cypriot citizens will have an unrestricted right to reside, work, conduct trade, pursue a profession, establish and operate businesses or engage in any economic activity all over the country.

We hope that in this sensitive period everyone will remain committed to the huge effort to solve the Cyprus problem on the basis of principles and the agreed framework. We also hope that counterproductive statements, which only create a climate of mistrust and pessimism as well as harming the negotiation procedure, will be avoided.