Fake news from the EPP and ruling DISY party
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd July 2020, Nicosia
Yesterday’s statement of the Political Group of the Right in the European Parliament, the European Peoples Party EPP, and its reproduction in Cyprus by the ruling DISY party is nothing more than gross fake news and cheap populism that harms the cause of our homeland.
AKEL points out that the Group of the Left in the European Parliament requested in writing that Turkey’s aggressive actions in the Eastern Mediterranean be discussed in the next Plenary Session of the European Parliament on the 24th June, together with the approval of a relevant Resolution. During yesterday’s meeting of the Presidents of the Political Groups of the European Parliament, it became clear that there was no majority in favour of the approval of a Resolution due to the stance taken by other Political Groups.
If DISY party and the EPP want to discuss the role of each Political Group on EU-Turkey issues and the Cyprus problem, a debate can take place. AKEL recalls that it is precisely the governments ruled by the EPP that are preventing the adoption of more drastic measures against Turkey.
It is the EPP governments – headed by Germany – that are continuing to sell arms, weapons and handing over war submarines to Turkey.
It is the EPP, including its President Martin Weber, who during last year’s European Parliament Progress Report on Turkey voted in favour of the discussion for the upgrading of the EU-Turkey Customs Union, which means that EU-Turkey business relations being multiplied.
It is the EPP that voted against the amendment submitted by the Group of the Left on the Cyprus problem, which demanded the abolition of Turkey’s guarantees and the speedy withdrawal of the occupying troops.
On the other hand, a simple reading of the European Parliament’s minutes is sufficient to convince anyone that it is the Group of the Left in the European Parliament that in all the critical votes on the Cyprus problem and EU-Turkey relations, it doesn’t just support AKEL’s positions, but the just cause and rights of Cyprus and its people.
