Natural gas must not become from a blessing to a curse
Statement of Georgos Loucaides, AKEL C.C. Press Office Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 13th January 2015, Nicosia
The draft report of the Secretary-General of United Nations on the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) confirms the concerns AKEL had been expressing during this period regarding the course of the Cyprus problem. Justified feelings of anxiety and disappointment are provoked by the fact that the United Nations, which should be the guardian of International Law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, merely records the fact of the issuing of a NAVTEX by Turkey without exercising any criticism whatsoever, indeed at the same time when Turkey this time has in fact designated the southern regions of the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus, even opposite our free coasts.
The question is why have we reached this breaking point, with the deadlocks on the Cyprus problem deepening dangerously and with natural gas inclining to be transformed from a blessing into a curse? Two years have passed since the election of President Anastasiades and it has not been possible to commence substantive talks. Turkish aggressiveness has gone far beyond all previous behaviour and this behaviour is not being criticized by the international community. On the contrary, it is our side that is in international isolation.
AKEL all through this period carefully avoided any revanchist tendencies, consciously pursuing a low key stance far from any policies for domestic consumption, disregarded the political cost and persistently tried to encourage the President of the Republic to move in the correct direction, submitting concrete proposals at each phase. In no case was AKEL listened to, despite the fact that each time AKEL’s positions were being vindicated by developments themselves. So, unfortunately, we have reached the point where the issue of natural gas has been put on the negotiating table by President himself without this action being able to prevent the new NAVTEX issued by Turkey.
The situation is critical and is now tending to be out of control. In view of the upcoming debate in the UN Security Council and the approval of a resolution, it is imperative that initiatives are undertaken immediately to prevent the worst. At the point we have reached, any petty-party, petty-political or communication expediencies must finally be put to one side because the margins to manoeuvre have narrowed dangerously. It is the President himself first and before anyone else who must rise to the occasion and appear to be consistent with his declared position that he prefers to be useful rather than liked, for the good of our country and people. This is what he must do in practice, even now at this stage. However, if he continues on this destructive path, AKEL is not prepared to be held jointly responsible for the devastating consequences that will follow and which are already visible to the naked eye.
