Government’s foreign policy lacking credibility
Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL Press Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th June 2015, Nicosia
According to press reports that were broadcasted today, the Israeli side during President Anastasiades’ visit to Israel thanked the President of the Republic of Cyprus for the fact that Cyprus is defending Israel’s just cause inside the EU.
More specifically, the press reports stated that Nicosia “stood as a bulwark so that the recent EU regulation for labelling products produced in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel was not approved”. Trade in these products is the product of a war crime. If in addition we take into account the statements by the Government’s Ministers on the occasion of President Anastasiades’ visit to Israel about the upgrading of the Republic of Cyprus’s cooperation with the state of Israel then it once again becomes evident that the Government is acting in a one-sided way that does not serve Cyprus’ interests.
How can the Government be convincing on the Cyprus problem when it is not sensitive to the problem of the trading of products from the settlements of the settlers in Palestine, indeed at the same time when 17 other EU governments have done so by proposing the relevant regulation for labelling products produced in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel? How is it possible for the Government of a country under occupation to defend an occupying power inside the EU? How is it possible to forget this matter of principle and justice which concerns the struggle of the Palestinian people for freedom?
In addition, just recently the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Kasoulides replied in writing to the AKEL Member of Parliament Georgos Loucaides that he was not briefed about the relevant initiative of the 17 other EU Foreign Ministers about the labelling of goods from the settlements of settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories and that “Cyprus’ position on the labelling issue, but also with regards the problem of the settlements of settlers in general in the occupied Palestinian territories is a principled position in line with International Law and does not change, regardless of our relations with Israel”. When is the Government telling the truth? Does the Government acknowledge that the foreign policy it is pursuing demonstrates a serious deficit of credibility and is negatively affecting our relations with traditionally friendly countries?
