On the 78th anniversary of AKEL’s foundation

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 13 April 2019, Nicosia

On 11th April 1941 an act of association took place in the village of Skarinou 78 years ago, which was to have a catalytic role in the history of Cyprus and the entire development of the Cypriot people. On the initiative of the illegal Communist Party of Cyprus (CPC), and in cooperation with progressive personalities, a meeting took place which led to the foundation of the Progressive Party of the Working People, the worthy successor of the CPC.

The establishment of AKEL did not come as a complete shock, but was born out of the need that Cypriot society itself demanded for the creation of a mass political party. The militants of the illegal Communist Party of Cyprus, at the forefront of the workers movement, took advantage of the partial relaxation of the dictatorial measures of the British colonial regime within the framework of the conditions that had been created with the beginning of the Second World War. They took the necessary initiative to form a legal political party.

AKEL, with its foundation, took the lead and was at the forefront of our people’s political and social struggles for liberation from British colonialism and for the social development of the working people form the towns and countryside. The movement of the Left from AKEL’s very first steps grew in mass numbers and influence and became a respected and decisive political force.

For more than nine decades of struggle, the CPC-AKEL continues to be the voice of the broader popular strata, a key bastion of struggle for the freedom and independence of Cyprus, a steadfast force for democracy, social development and progress.

AKEL continues and remains a modern, renewed, militant, assertive and pioneering political force, maintaining close ties with the Cypriot people as a whole, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

AKEL continues to be the bastion of struggle for the reunification of our homeland and people on the basis of Bicommunal, Bizonal Federation, for our liberation from the anachronistic division and occupation.

In its historical path AKEL has struggled in illegality, suffered persecution, traded, came under planned all-out attacks, encountered bombings and seen the murder and assassination of its militants. Faithful however to its ideological and political heritage, AKEL continues steadfastly and with consistency to be in the front line of struggle for the salvation of our homeland, for the assertions of both working people and the small-medium strata, as well as the intelligentsia, of our people as a whole in general.

AKEL, in the difficult conditions characterized by the neo-liberal onslaught and in cooperation with broader social and political forces, is struggling within Cyprus to defend workers gains, preserve the welfare state, chart a real growth policy for the benefit of the common people and defend the vulnerable groups of the population. It is struggling for the clearing up of the scandals and exemplary punishment of those involved, to deliver incessant objective justice, which, with its decisions, should enhance the people’s feelings that justice has been done.

At the same time at a European level, AKEL contributes as much as it can to the creation of a Europe of the peoples, cooperation, mutual understanding, non-exclusion, peace and democracy. AKEL is struggling against the policies of the ruling EU directorate which is intensifying militarization, turning the Union into a “fortress” and promoting the interests of multinational corporations and big capital.

In today’s difficult political and socio-economic conditions our country and people are facing, AKEL is the very political force that:

 resists and creates bastions of resistance against the neo-liberal policies pursued by the Anastasiades-DISY government,

 raises its voice and take actions against the ultras-right’s nationalist and chauvinist frenzy,

 struggles and defends the rights and gains of all working people,

 represents a pole rallying and uniting broader political and social forces

 promotes with consistency the rapprochement, understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two communities,

 supports with consistency and over time all efforts aimed at promoting the solution of the Cyprus problem through the negotiation procedure under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, for a solution based on the resolutions of the International Organization, the High-Level Makarios-Denktash and Kyprianou-Denktash agreements.

Reviewing the 93 years of struggle of the CPC-AKEL, today we renew, on the occasion of the anniversary of the establishment of AKEL, our pledge that the members and militants of AKEL will continue with the same selflessness and self-sacrifice as their predecessors to devote all their forces for the victory of our people’s struggles, the vindication of our homeland, the full liberation of Cyprus and the completion of its independence.

Our vision is for our Homeland to be a bridge of stability and cooperation between the peoples of the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East.

Our vision is for a prosperous, reunited and demilitarized homeland for all Cypriots – Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins, living in peace, security, friendship and cooperation, in state based on the rule of law, that will respect all the mutual rights of its citizens.