Interview of Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL, to “Avgi” newspaper

 Sunday 31st March 2014

 

“A”: A decade ago AKEL came out – even hesitantly – against the Annan plan. Today see it carefully backing the procedure. Do you think there will be a substantially better plan or that Cyprus is with its back against the wall and cannot achieve anything better?

AK: Whether we will arrive at a better plan will depend on the efforts our side will exert. Why has AKEL chosen to support this process? We do so because we believe there is no alternative option and because developments on the ground is very worrying with regards to prospects of Cyprus and the Cypriot people. The number of settlers are already far greater than the number of Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas, thus altering the demographic composition, a fact which will be make the discussions to resolve the Cyprus problem extremely difficult, while at the same time there is the illegal exploitation of the Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas, that are being developed by foreign companies and foreign interests when many Greek Cypriots are also resorting to the compensation commission to sell their properties at ridiculous prices to the Turkish state.

At a European level a tentative attempt is beginning to coerce and blackmail through the proposal for direct trade with the occupied areas, the demand that two of the six seats of Cyprus in the European Parliament be given to Turkish observers. These actions are forming a worrying framework, which must be tackled by the substantive discussion for the achievement of a solution of the Cyprus problem. How will the negotiations evolve will also depend on how we handle it and of course what will be the response from the Greek side. My appeal to all those in the international community who are trying to play a role in solving the Cyprus problem is to insist on the basic principles of the solution of the Cyprus problem. It is the only way to have a positive outcome to the Cyprus problem.

 

“A”: What advantages did the conclusion of the Christofias – Talat talks have that have not been utilised; Do you think that they can be transferred to the current process?

AK: Our view is that the talks should continue from where Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali had stopped. And I say with Mr. Talat and not with Mr. Eroglu because the fact is that when Eroglu assumed the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community, there were no significant developments. Obviously, and we do not say this on a whim, nor do we consider that these convergences are ideal. There are weaknesses which are the result of the painful compromise made ​​in 1977 for a bi-communal and bi-zonal federal so0lution. At the same time, however, we say the following: Demetris Christofias was talking with Talat talked, one of those who wanted a solution to the Cyprus problem, however much our opinions differed. Mr. Eroglu through time supports partition or, at best, confederation and that alone makes the effort of Mr. Anastasiades difficult.

We therefore consider that, if an attempt is made to resume the talks from scratch/zero, there are two possibilities: either we won’t reach an agreement or if do reach an agreement; it will be more unfavourable than the previous. And we have the bitter experience of the joint communiqué, which is why I advise Mr. Anastasiades to continue from where the talks had ended.

 

“A”: Do you think that the internal instability in Turkey affects the Cyprus problem in some way?

AK: Certainly it is a factor that should be taken seriously into account, but opinions differ even in Turkey on how it will affect the solution of the Cyprus problem. There are those who say that the weakening of Erdogan will prevent him from contributing to a positive development, but there are others who say that the weakness he feels currently will push him to solve some issues because he needs the favour of the international community. Our view is that we should seek in this procedure to assert the basic principles of the solution of the Cyprus problem. If this appears that it is being achieved, we will support the efforts to reach a solution. If not, we say that the President of the Republic should make it clear that he does not accept a bad plan to be put again in a referendum.

 

“A”: Is a 51% majority enough?

AK: In my opinion, no. A solution to the Cyprus problem, because it will objectively face many difficulties in the implementation process, needs support from both the Greek Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot. This is the reason why I advise the President to try to promote the participation in this effort of as many political parties and organized groups as possible. The exclusion of anyone must not be attempted, simply because of a different view. We must work collectively, in a unitary way and be driven by the well-intentioned interests of Cyprus.

 

“A”: In Greece there are people coming from both the Right and the Left who reject the joint communiqué, even the resumption of talks. What are your comments?

AK: I have discussed with them and I listen to the doubts expressed; doubts that wen share too. My own appeal, my warm appeal, is to not rush to draw conclusions. We should endeavour to make efforts which must be coherent and based on a clear strategy and judge the results. If this does not satisfy us, then the President should take the responsibility to reject a bad result.

 

“A”: What is the productive and economic model that suits Cyprus? You had tourism and banks. Now what?

AK: We always stressed that this recipe was not the best. In Cyprus we often say that to put all eggs into one basket is dangerous. The banking sector had grown to such dimensions that it could not be controlled, namely, it was 4.5 to 5 times greater than the GDP of the country and when we the economy faced difficulties it could not support it. It is absolutely vital therefore to turn to other areas and we say that now when there is this crisis, we must be more decisive in the shift towards sectors such as light industry, agriculture, livestock and others; sectors that I would say that also best suit the Cypriot temperament…