“Akinci’s victory and the prospects for a solution” by Stefanos Stefanou, Member of the Political Bureau of AKEL

 

3rd May 2015

 

Mustafa Akinci had barely become leader of the Turkish Cypriot community and the familiar forces and circles began once again to raise their voices within the Greek Cypriot community.

A flood of estimations began arguing that with Akinci as our interlocutor the Cyprus problem will be solved. There was also a flood of forecasts that Turkey will ultimately put the new Turkish Cypriot leader under its control and therefore nothing will change. The first reciprocal accusations also began to be hurled around between “rejectionists” and “concessionists”.

The time has finally come in our country for us to learn how to discuss in a mature and calm manner, instead of wasting our time in narrow-minded analyses and predictions. In any case, everything will be judged at the negotiating table. This is where everyone will show what their real intentions are and will be judged according to their positions and behaviour.

Akinci’s victory undoubtedly represents a positive development as far as the prospect of a solution of the Cyprus problem is concerned. There is no sane person who does not understand the difference between a politician who over time and with consistency is a supporter of the reunification of Cyprus and its people within the framework of a federation (this is Akinci) and a politician who is dogmatically attached to partition, namely, Eroglu.

The presence of Akinci in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community does not mean that he terminates Turkey’s decisive role, which still holds the key to the solution. On the other hand however, the presence of the new Turkish Cypriot leader can strengthen the voice of the Turkish Cypriots, who with the result of the vote sent out a powerful message of communalism to Turkey.

Even if Turkey’s role continues to exist, Akinci’s presence can work positively towards achieving progress in the inter-communal dialogue. This was also the case when Mr. Talat was in the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community. Despite the retractions and the ups and downs on the negotiating table Talat, having Demetris Christofias before him, helped towards the achievement of significant convergences in three of the six main chapters of the Cyprus problem. The two communities in the history of negotiations on the Cyprus problem have never before agreed on so many and significant aspects and issues. When Eroglu was opposite Christofias almost nothing was achieved. This proves that who the interlocutor is does matter.

Taking into account the new given situation resulting from the vote in the occupied territories and in view of the fact that the negotiations will resume very soon, the Greek Cypriot side must prepare itself very seriously to address the challenges. The Confidence Building Measures announced by the President of the Republic are on the one hand positive, but these measures alone cannot solve the Cyprus problem. Only through the negotiation of the substantive issues can progress be achieved and can we arrive at a mutually acceptable solution.

Consequently, the President of the Republic must make a serious preparation for the waging of substantive negotiations. First of all, he must abandon the various policies serving expediencies and policies for internal consumption, which have had a cost for the Greek Cypriot side and which have led to responsibilities being apportioned on it for the stagnation of the Cyprus problem. And this happened when Mr. Eroglu was facing the President. The President of the Republic must at long last decide to utilise the Christofias-Talat convergences which cover a large part of the gap which must be covered in order to reach a solution.

AKEL, as always, will continue with responsibility and seriousness to work for a solution. It will continue creatively to support the negotiation procedure, but will not give a free hand to Mr. Anastasiades. AKEL will continue to encourage the dialogue between the two communities and the development of joint action for rationalism and optimism to prevail.