Speech by Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, to the event to denounce the proclamation of the pseudo-state

 14th November 2015, at the end of Ledra Street, Nicosia

For yet another year we are raising our voice in protest at the occupation. Yet another year has gone by and we are raising high the banner of peace and reunification. Ledra Street does not end here! Our vision for the future of Cyprus does not stop here – no matter how much our country’s enemies tried to kill this vision.

The first part of the twin crime was committed in 1974. The permanent consolidation of the twin crime’s results, which was Turkey’s long-standing goal, began to be promoted long before the proclamation of the pseudo-state in 1983. The mission for the “integration” of the occupied areas of Cyprus to Turkey was assigned to Ankara’s then favorite one, Rauf Denktash. Denktash was preparing the culmination of secessionist actions for a long time. On the pretext of the stagnation on the Cyprus problem he proceeded steadfastly towards the fulfillment of his goal. He repressed the progressive voices of resistance within the Turkish Cypriot community and eroded every force that could resist him.

The declaration of the pseudo-state regime on 15th Nov 1983 was the next episode of the 1974 invasion. Turkey invaded Cyprus with the ultimate goal of partitioning it. The declaration of the pseudo-state regime was the culmination of the consolidation of its long-standing objectives. Despite the fact that in May 1983 the UN General Assembly approved a resolution which demanded the withdrawal of all the occupation troops while simultaneously proclaiming the right of the people of Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus for full sovereignty, the conditions in Cyprus deteriorated daily given that Ankara ignored all the calls of the international community.

Since June 1983 the rumors about the occupation regime’s intention to declare an “independent Cypriot state were intense. The military establishment of Ankara had already decided and began promoting it. It is characteristic that the late Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash was awaiting the written order from Ankara until the evening of 14th November. As its faithful representative, he announced on the same day his intention for a declaration of “independence” on 15th November. Indeed, he tried to break off all communications in the occupied areas.

As AKEL, we reacted immediately to the Turkish establishment’s secessionist action. We called on the Cypriot people to forge patriotic unity of action. We pointed out that the proclamation of the pseudo-state regime constituted an “illegal act aimed at the permanent partition of Cyprus and creates conditions for the promotion of the line of double Enosis; conditions to turn our homeland into a base of US – NATO imperialism.”

When we are talking about the crime of the invasion in pointing to Turkey, we are not talking about a crime that took place and has ended. We are talking about an ongoing crime that is continuing today too. The declaration of the pseudo-state was its culmination. At the same time for forty one years now Turkey is maintaining an occupation army in Cyprus with a force of more than 40,000 soldiers. Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are denied for over four decades the exercise of their fundamental human rights. They are living permanently with the threat of instability. The colonization of the occupied areas continues in line with a specific and targeted plan of Turkish policy. From 1974 onwards, settlers are continuously being transported to Cyprus with a view to imposing a demographic alteration.

All this illustrates a clear conclusion: the existence of the so-called “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus” is Turkey’s extension/long arm in Cyprus. It constitutes a threat to both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike. The situation remains insecure and uncontrolled so long as such a regime exists in Cyprus. The occupation represents a permanent threat to the people of Cyprus and the region. The colonization of the occupied areas threatens the future of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike. This threat will be neutralized only with the reversal of the situation created by the Turkish occupation. It will only be reversed and lifted with the achievement of a just, functional and viable solution of the Cyprus problem. This is and should remain the objective of the common struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; the struggle against the occupation, imperialism and neo-fascism.

We must not forget how we got to this point. Many forces and circles, both in Cyprus and abroad, contributed to the coup d’état and the invasion which divided our country through the barbed wire of division. As AKEL we were conscious of the dangers ahead and therefore were continuously issuing warnings.

America and NATO had never renounced the goal of Cyprus’ subjugation and subordination to their interests. In 1964, ten years before the twin crime of the coup and invasion, the former US Secretary of State Acheson, the initiator of the notorious plan for the partition of Cyprus, said: “The best solution to the Cyprus problem is partition. And I say to you that if I had at my disposal the US Sixth Fleet I could even solve it tomorrow.” This was the best solution for the powerful interests. The tragic irony is the fact that the “national-minded” Right of Cyprus – headed by Grivas – wanted to project and support Acheson’s plans for partition. According to Greek Cypriot ultra-right journalist Spyros Papageorgiou Grivas wrote then about the Acheson plan to his collaborators in the newspapers that they must promote this plan and base their policy on it. I mention this historical truth so that those circles and forces who want to “re-write” and “re-learn our country’s history to the young generation should reflect. What is even more ironic is that today this precise concept, either directly or indirectly ∙ namely that the partition of Cyprus may perhaps be the best solution – is being promoted.

Unfortunately at critical moments we failed to unite our forces and struggle without expediencies, hatred and fanaticism. Did we perhaps unite our forces and struggle to prevent the fulfillment of their monstrous plans when everyone realized that foreign powers and forces would do everything they could to incite conflicts and create instability in our country? Unfortunately, no. In confronting the situation created after 1963, President Makarios had the courage to proclaim the politics of the feasible/possible; to proclaim that concrete reality put before the Cypriot people the need to support the Republic of Cyprus, the common home of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; to boldly state that reality itself does not permit deviations to the desirable. However, nationalism and chauvinism refused to recognize this reality. They took care to drown in blood every voice that resisted their actions.

Today, many decades later, certain forces and circles are bringing back illusions about an ideal/desirable solution. “We should demand a unitary state solution,” they say. From whom should we demand it and with whom do they think we will achieve it? These forces and circles say we should go to the United Nations today and tell them that we regret agreeing to a federation 38 years ago and then ask them to support us? What do we think the answer will be? To appeal to the Turkish Cypriot community, even to its most progressive section and tell them what? To tell them that we want a unitary state? What will be the answer to that? The “closure” of the Cyprus problem with the permanent partition of Cyprus. If this is what some people want they should honestly and sincerely say this to the Cypriot people.

After 1974 the only route to the solution has always been the honorable and painful compromise of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. Makarios had the wisdom to realize that we could not turn the clock back; that only with a federal solution could we reverse all that has been created by the coup and invasion. If today we believe we can turn the clock back and assert something similar or better than what we had in the ’60s, then we are worthy of our destiny, we are doomed. If today we believe we can play games on the Cyprus problem, an “all or nothing” game, then it’s not only worse for us, but also for Cyprus and the future generations. Let’s get real. If we really want to lift our people up and shake off the yoke of occupation, we must root out from our minds and discourse any illusions and empty rhetoric. Our people have for many decades suffered enough from such illusions and rhetoric.

Negotiations are currently ongoing. Everyone says that the conditions are favorable and that the climate every day is becoming more and more positive. We do not want to cultivate more illusions among the people. We judge and will continue to judge the course of the negotiations themselves on the basis of what is submitted at the negotiating table. We express our satisfaction because the negotiations have been intensified and because the leaders of the two communities are much more actively involved in them. We stressed the need for this since everyone supported the position that the negotiator must be the one waging talks. As AKEL, then and now, we insist on the position that, as during the Demetris Christofias administration, the meetings between the two leaders should be prepared comprehensively. Subsequently both of the leaders should discuss the core issues. Beyond that, for us it is obvious that the National Council should be kept fully informed of developments. At the same time all its members need to show respect to the body, as they demand for themselves, namely to refrain from any acts and actions that would damage the negotiating effort.

Unfortunately I say all this because in recent years public debate has been increasingly lowered with the Cyprus problem subject to petty-party and petty-political expediencies and considerations. The downhill path, which began during the Presidency of Demetris Christofias, is continuing today too. Everything is easily distorted, judged, criticized and levelled. Everyone rushes to create impressions. Let me give a simple example: the recent victory of Erdogan in the Turkish elections. Certain forces and circles rushed to point out that everything is in Erdogan’s hands as regards the Cyprus problem, negating the role the Turkish Cypriot leader may have. They choose to forget that D. Christofias agreed convergences with Talat which Erdogan wasn’t satisfied with. Others rushed to forecast that Erdogan’s victory will bring the solution.

AKEL insists that no one should be hasty. We wait to see how the discussion at the negotiation table will evolve on the issues concerning the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem and then make an assessment. When the time will come for the discussion of the external aspects of the Cyprus problem Turkey’s real intentions will be revealed.

Never in the history of negotiations on the Cyprus problem has AKEL claimed that all will be rosy. On the contrary, we always pointed out the difficulties and obstacles, speaking sincerely and honestly to the people. We will have difficulties this time too. Our reaction will certainly not be to wage relentlessly attacks on the Turkish Cypriot leader. We all know, no matter how much some people don’t want to admit it, that Mr. Akinci wants a solution of the Cyprus problem, not exactly as we would like the solution to be of course. Consequently, we need patience and well-documented positions. We need to convince that our positions are to the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots as well. In other words we should all, especially the President of the Republic, say little and do a lot of work if we want this effort to have a successful outcome.

As far as AKEL is concerned, we are working with all our forces for a solution of the Cyprus problem – a just, functional and viable solution that will terminate the occupation and colonization, restore the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus. AKEL is working for a solution that will exclude any rights for military intervention in the internal affairs of our country by foreign forces; a solution which will provide for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and the demilitarization of Cyprus; a solution that will reunite the territory, people, institutions and the economy of the country under a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as described in the relevant UN Resolutions; a solution which provides that the reunified Cypriot state will have a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship; a solution that will restore and safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its people, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, including the right of return and property of refugees.

This is our clear long-standing position with regards the solution of the Cyprus problem, as our overall political line on the Cyprus problem is timeless. Those who are promoting in all directions the myth about a supposed “collusion between DISY and AKEL” know this fact very well.  I challenge them to point out on what issue has AKEL changed its positions on the Cyprus problem to be identified with DISY – none whatsoever. The same positions we had before, AKEL supports now as we have been documenting and defending them all these years, but also today.

Today we are here to denounce the declaration of the pseudo-state and Turkey’s criminal policy against both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We are here to reach out to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots and to assert together our common future. Both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots are children of the same homeland. In our common history, our common struggles, in our common future – only this truth exists. This is what we are demanding to realize through the reunification of our country, without dependencies, without interventions, without guardians and without “mother countries”.

We join our voices with all those struggling for a federal, sovereign, independent and peaceful Cyprus. We join our voices and everyone together, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to become a voice crying out for the whole of Cyprus – a voice that demands that the wound be healed! Asserting peace! Demanding that this country belong to its people!