Government’s efforts to silence AKEL, invoking false arguments that wrong messages are being conveyed abroad are in vain.
Statement by Stefanos Stefanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 27th September 2017, Nicosia
The government’s strenuous efforts to silence AKEL, invoking the false argument that wrong messages are being conveyed abroad are in vain.
First, AKEL does not criticize the President of the Republic of provoking the failure at Crans Montana. The failure is the responsibility of Turkey. AKEL criticizes Mr. Anastasiades for not making use of the possibilities and prospects to achieve a positive outcome and for allowing Turkey to leave the Conference relieved of any responsibilities apportioned on it. Neither the UN, nor the EU is criticizing Turkey, even now that the occupying power is planning the further consolidation of partitionist fait accompli. It is our view that Mr. Anastasiades bears responsibility for this because he didn’t handle the issues correctly.
Secondly, the UN Secretary-General has been directly and actively involved all through the procedure of the negotiations. He had firsthand experience and knowledge of what has and didn’t happen. He isn’t expecting anyone to tell him what went wrong. Besides, the positions he expressed about Crans Montana were made before any political force in Cyprus could preemptively declare anything.
Thirdly, the UN Secretary General Representative’s statements on the continuation of the period of reflection until both parties “demonstrate their readiness to re-engage” were made when Mr. Guterres met Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Akinci. Therefore, the one who has to be careful about what he states is the President himself and not AKEL. And obviously, with all that the UN Secretary-General has heard, they didn’t convince him that he could take an initiative on the Cyprus problem with a chance of success.
