NATO’s involvement in the solution puts Cyprus and its people before new adventures and dangers

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 19 November 2018, Nicosia

The Government Spokesman Mr. Prodromou, in attempting to reply to the interview given by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou to the ‘Brief’ website, in effect confirms that Mr. Anastasiades is discussing a solution with NATO as the guarantor and with the presence of NATO.

According to what Mr. Prodromou has stated, it seems that the President considers that the Turkish guarantees can be replaced by NATO guarantees, an aggressive alliance in which Turkey plays a very significant role.

As to those forces and circles who have the illusion that NATO can guarantee the solution of the Cyprus problem, we simply urge them to take a look at the role NATO is playing in the relations between Greece and Turkey and how “safe” Greece with regards Turkey.

The President of the Republic wants to make NATO a guarantor, ignoring the fact that this organization, as a result of the aggressive policies it is pursuing, is provoking bloodshed, conflicts and wars in every corner of the world.

The President of the Republic wants to put NATO as a guarantor, deleting the indisputable historical fact that the tragedy of Cyprus and the twin crime committed in 1974 was planned and promoted by NATO. That is to say, Mr. Anastasiades wants to put the wolf to guard the sheep.

The notion of replacing Turkey with NATO is diametrically opposed to the unanimous decision approved by the National Council as expressed in its 2009 communiqué for demilitarization with the solution of a united Cyprus and with the perspective of the complete demilitarization of the island.

The position for NATO’s involvement in the solution puts Cyprus and its people before new adventures and dangers. AKEL which is the main axis and the main force to achieve a solution that liberates and reunifies, will never accept a solution with NATO guarantees and the presence of NATO in Cyprus.

All those forces and circles flirting with such an idea should keep this in mind.

In his reply, Mr. Prodromou tries in vain to justify the President of the Republic’s tactical maneuvers and handling in relation to the Cyprus problem. In truth, who in the international community adopts or shares the narrative put forth by the President of the Republic on the Cyprus problem? Who has he convinced about his consistency to the agreed basis of the solution?

And finally, who is drawing up plans on paper to which Mr. Prodromou is referring to? Is it AKEL or is it the President of the Republic who decided to open an issue of “decentralized federation” without the President himself knowing the content of his idea and referring to experts who will determine it?