For an assertive policy to bring results it must be substantiated, based on the agreed principles and agreed framework
Statements by the General Secretary of the Central Committee Andros Kyprianou after the meeting with a delegation of the Communist Party of China
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 8th December 2016, Nicosia
AK: We had a very productive meeting with the delegation from the Communist Party of China headed by the Deputy Minister on issues related to justice of the People’s Republic of China. During our meeting we had the opportunity to put forth our positions on the latest developments surrounding the Cyprus problem. At the same time we called on China to call for its participation in the international conference to be convened on 12th January 2017 to discuss the security issue in relation of course to the general discussion on the Cyprus problem. I must say that we had a positive response from the delegation of the People’s Republic of China.
Apart from the Cyprus problem, we had the opportunity to be briefed about the latest developments in this great country, as well as about the decisions taken at the last Congress of the Communist Party of China. On our part, we briefed them on the situation in Cyprus.
Do you mean that they were positive about the international conference?
AK: Yes, they will certainly forward our request to the leadership of their country.
Did you raise this request with the Chinese delegation after consulting with the Presidential Palace?
AK: Let me say that we discussed in detail the issues in yesterday’s session of the National Council. And in all honestly I have to say that I wonder about the statements which I hear being made by political leaders. I listened with great surprise to the position put forth by a party leader that our whole stand and behaviour is characterized by defeatism, fear etc. This has nothing whatsoever to do with reality.
I repeat: whenever the policy of bravado, empty threats and posturing were followed by our side, the results only damaged the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem, as well as taking many steps backwards. And unfortunately whenever negotiations resumed the result was that they began from a worse position. I referred to many such examples during the session of the National Council, where these acts of boastful bravado damaged our efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem.
And if you like, I can cite some examples again:
– 1992. The then leader of the DISY party Mr. Clerides for four and a half years was boasting that the President of the Republic at that time Mr. Vasiliou was following his own policy. Suddenly on the eve of the 1993 Presidential Election he remembered to “bury” the UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s “Set of Ideas” in order to win the elections and to gain the support of the political parties of the “middle ground”, the so-called intermediate spectrum. I want to clarify, he “buried” the Ghali “Set of Ideas”, thus enabling Mr. Denktash to get out of the tight corner which he had been in and for five long years there was no clear objective in the policy pursued on the Cyprus problem. We were unable to take a step forward and were looking to find a way to commence substantive negotiations.
– On the eve of the 1998 Presidential elections we witnessed the theory of “active volcano” on the Cyprus problem and all the hysteria concerning the S-300 missiles. The result was that on 31st August 1997 Denktash put on the negotiating table his own position – unacceptable and illogical – in favour of confederation without any reaction to it from the international community. They didn’t react because they were annoyed about the way the Greek Cypriot side had acted and of course the worst subsequently followed. In 1999, with the UN Resolution 1250 the phrase “all issues on the table” was adopted, which to this day still causes us great difficulty.
– I shall also refer to Mr. Papadopoulos. Following the 2004 referenda, after the 8th July 2006, Mr. Papadopoulos put forth numerous conditions for the resumption of negotiations. The result was that discussions continued for one and a half years on procedural issues for the resumption of the negotiations without managing to do so. And of course the worst part is that at that time tremendous pressures were being exerted on the Greek Cypriot side for direct trade with the occupied areas. It was the only issue on the agenda. That was the time when it was also decided to grant €259 million of aid annually to the Turkish Cypriot community, which continues to be granted to this today.
– Must I also refer to Mr. Anastasiades, who won the Presidency of the Republic promising the stars to DIKO as regards the Cyprus problem? For a whole year the Anastasiades government had no clear objective in the policy pursued on the Cyprus problem. Turkey sent the Turkish vessel “Barabaros” to roam in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus, and despite the fact that Turkey was at fault, we had the worst report ever tabled by the UN Secretary-General.
This is precisely where the bravado and posturing led us to. We are adamant that an assertive policy is that policy which can produce results. For this policy to bring results it must be well-substantiated, based on the agreed principles, the agreed framework of the solution of the Cyprus problem and be characterized by reason. Reason does not mean defeatism, nor does it mean unacceptable concessions to the Turkish demands and Turkish provocativeness. This is what AKEL stated in the National Council session and that is what it will continue to say.
AKEL reiterates its urgent appeal. We are at a critical and decisive phase in the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem. There are objectively a lot of difficulties. There is also a perspective. We must work to maximize the prospects and minimize the difficulties. But to achieve this goal we all need to cooperate between us. We will not achieve it by undermining and degrading each other.
Therefore, AKEL, as a patriotic party, will act in this way, seeking to be constructive. This is not the time, I repeat, to engage in a blame game and to degrade and undermine each other. Those who have views should submit them in a well-documented way in the National Council. We should prepare ourselves as regards all the outstanding pending issues that will be discussed in the next few weeks up to 9th January when the meeting will be held in Geneva. We should try to make a constructive contribution to the difficult effort underway. This is the appeal we as AKEL are addressing to the other political parties. To the President of the Republic, we say that there is no room for any mistakes. We must be consistent to the principles upon which the effort to find a solution to the Cyprus problem is based on. We should focus on the core issues and also handle the procedural issues with the necessary persistence on principles, but also with flexibility.
What matters most is the substance with regards the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.
The newspaper “Phileleftheros” reports that AKEL has a different view as to when the guarantees will be abolished and reports that there is a difference of opinion between the President of the Republic and the General Secretary of AKEL.
AKEL’s position is clear and specific. Turkey’s guarantees must be abolished from the first moment. There needs to be a transitional period in which there will be a security system in place to meet the concerns of both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The President of the Republic submitted a concrete proposal on this issue. We consider this a good proposal which can constitute a basis for discussion so that there will be an agreement on the issues of security for a transitional period. I do not know if the President of the Republic is saying something different. You need to ask the Government Spokesman if the President disagrees with this proposal.
The press report refers to a shift in your position?
What I have just told you now is what I said yesterday in session of the National Council. As I understand it the President of the Republic agrees with what I have said. It is a fact that some of the verbal statements he made yesterday raised some questions. I thought they had been clarified, ask the government spokesman to clarify them.
