Each side’s positions and behaviour will be judged at the negotiation table

 

Statements of Stefanos Stefanou, member of the Political Bureau of AKEL

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd May 2915, Nicosia

 

We consider the discussion that has begun on the domestic front on the perspectives for a solution of the Cyprus problem on the occasion of the statements made by the new leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Mr. Akinci as counterproductive and fruitless. This discussion causes unnecessary tensions and conflicts at a time when we need the home front we need cool-headedness, maturity and unity on the domestic front.

However, no logical person can understand that with the emergence of Mr. Akinci to the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community a window of opportunity for a solution is not created. The logic that nothing is going to change no matter who is the interlocutor because Turkey decides everything in the final analysis means that it is useless to negotiate for a solution. However, without negotiations there will never be a solution and we will end up with the partition, which we categorically reject.

Certainly, developments on the Cyprus problem, the positions and behavior of each side will be judged at the negotiating table.

In view of the resumption of the negotiations, the Greek Cypriot side must with consistency to the principles of the solution, but also with realism prepare seriously for substantive negotiations.

AKEL will continue with responsibility and seriousness to support negotiations as the only available path to achieve a solution. At the same time, AKEL stresses that the support of the negotiation procedure does not constitute a blank check to the President of the Republic who is responsible for the policy pursued and the handling of the Cyprus problem.