On the negotiation procedure with regards the Cyprus problem

 

Statement by Georgos Louciades, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th June 2014, Nicosia

As expected, the procedure to clarify the positions has considerably widened the gap between the positions of the two sides. We hoped that the situation would have improved during the substantive negotiation which is on-going. However, the gap continues to widen and this causes justifiable concerns. The Christofias-Talat convergences that were recorded are swiftly being abandoned and the future of the procedure, according to today’s realities, appears bleak.

The responsibility for the situation that has evolved lies with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side, who continue to put forth unacceptable demands violating the framework set out by the relevant United Nations resolutions and the High Level Agreements. The accusations made by the Turkish Cypriot negotiator against the Greek Cypriot side that it does not respect the convergences are made in order to conceal the Turkish Cypriot side’s real intentions. It was Mr. Eroglu and nobody else who undermined the convergences recorded and led the procedure in reality to a deadlock.

It is obvious that the Turkish Cypriot side’s aim is twofold: On the one hand, the complete disengagement from the convergences and to apportion the responsibility on the Greek Cypriot side. In pursuing this aim it is assisted by the President of the Republic’s unwillingness to continue negotiating from where we had left off with the Christofias-Talat convergences. If the President had pursued this policy, he would have exposed Mr. Eroglu’s real intentions and put him in the same difficult position in which the Turkish Cypriot leader was in before the President of the Republic changed course.

These developments demonstrate in practice that the undermining of what gains have been achieved so far and the beginning of negotiations from zero/scratch only serves the goals of the Turkish Cypriot side. Tactical manoeuvring serving communication games that have already caused great damage must be put aside and we should go back to the convergences recorded. If the current policy followed continues, it won’t be long before we will either come to a dead end, but this time joint responsibility will be attributed to our side, or an attempt will be made to bridge the gap by third parties with all the negative consequences this would imply. We hope everyone realizes how devastating such a development would be.

On the issue of a more active involvement by the EU in the talks

AKEL believes that the replies given by the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule disprove the declarations made by the government and ruling forces for communication purposes about an enhanced EU presence in the negotiations with regards the Cyprus problem. The European Commission through Mr. Fule in fact clarifies that it has no intention of changing the status of the EU presence in the negotiations.

Once again, the government and ruling forces must assume their responsibilities, given that they must stop pursuing policies on the Cyprus problem for purely domestic consumption. Instead, they should focus on the substance and forge alliances that will strengthen our position at the negotiating table.