Cyprus must not be a launching pad for military aggressions but a bridge of peace
Statement by Neoklis Sylikiotis, member of the Political Bureau of AKEL
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd September 2014, Nicosia
Yesterday’s secret visit of the British Prime Minister Cameron to the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus brought back memories of visits by other leaders of powerful states to Third World countries that are considered as “safe” and used by them as a launching pad for their military aggressions.
The Cypriot people are following Cyprus’ involvement in a foreign war on the decision of a Parliament of another country. This fact alone speaks for itself.
We do not doubt that the Government is kept informed. However, we raise the following question: Is this our vision for Cyprus? Is our vision to see Cyprus transformed into an aggressive launching pad for waging military campaigns and wars, as it was before it gained its independence? The use of the British Bases for military operations also demonstrates once again the role they play in the region. It is, inter alia, for these reasons that AKEL always maintains its position for the abolition of the bases.
The criminal “Islamic State” organisation, as the Prime Minister of Iraq himself stated yesterday, has its bases in Syria. We pose the following question: How did it turn out that a terrorist organisation, which has as its goal the establishment of an Islamic state in Iraq, was armed and trained in a third country? The answer is that the very same forces, who are threatening with the creation of a secessionist fundamentalist state, were supported and strengthened by the United States, NATO and the European Union who are seeking to overthrow the Assad regime. This represents yet another disastrous consequence of their short-sighted foreign policy. The instability generated by the wars waged has led to the strengthening of terrorism and not to combating it. As a consequence, defence industries have been strengthened and the militarisation of international relations sharpened.
We reiterate that the Republic of Cyprus’ role is to be a bridge for the promotion of initiatives for peace, democracy and the provision of humanitarian assistance and not a military outpost for wars, with new adventures looming for our people.
The Government should have focused its efforts on ending the foreign interventions in the countries of the region and on the United Nations undertaking initiatives for peace. At a time when the peoples are suffering from the policies of austerity and neoliberal measures, spending and expenditures for waging wars are increasing. The Government at long last should point out these positions to the European Union, and should not consent with the greatest of ease to Cyprus being used by the powerful of the world as an unsinkable aircraft carrier.
