Speech of Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. AKEL, at the mass event of EDON Youth Organization

 

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 25th January2015, Nicosia

 

On behalf of the Central Committee of AKEL I address a warm and militant greeting to the youth of EDON, to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth! It is with great joy that we are among you again. Among you we all feel young. With you, Cyprus can look to the future. Together with you the hope that Cyprus’ future can be different grows; a peaceful future, creating the conditions of prosperity for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins.

Your slogan is very topical: “Their war kills whatever their peace has left over”. Just as Brecht wrote, their war kills; it kills people, hopes and dreams. It kills Palestinians, the elderly and the young, who are murdered by the Israeli army. It kills thousands in Kobane, thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides the dead, there are the living-dead, that is to say those forced to become refugees. The refugees from Syria alone number roughly 3 million.

Their war kills what their peace has left over. And their peace is for example costing the lives of 2 million people every year in accidents at work. Their peace is condemning over 2.2 billion people annually in poverty as a result of the global capitalist crisis and natural disasters. In their peace, just 2% of the world’s GDP is enough for all the world’s poor to have the elementary means to ensure their survival, at a time when the 400 richest people in the world own 5.7% of the world’s GDP.

This inequality is also reflected in imperialism’s and its allies policy. Those who incited fundamentalism by pursuing their policy of “divide and rule”, who backed fundamentalism in the past by every material means are the same forces that are today deploring its attacks and hypocritically shedding tears for its victims. They have created a monster and today they are fighting it in a way which – once again – serves their interests. Those forces who funded fundamentalism are the same ones who stood at the head of the excellently orchestrated march to protest against the attack on Charlie Hebdo; an attack which we denounce with all our forces and strength as barbarian, inhuman and anti-democratic. The monster they have created is simply out of their control, just like another Frankenstein.

“Je suis Charlie” became an international slogan in just a few hours. It’s true that we are all Charlie…However we are not only Charlie. We are also Palestinians who are struggling for justice and their own homeland. We are also the Turkish miners and workers who died fighting for a living wage. We are also victims of the brutal aggressions leaving peoples without a country; countries whose wealth has been stolen. We are also victims of a labour relations regime reminiscent of mediaeval times and slavery. Whatever enslaves peoples and sacrifices them for the sake of profit, we and the working people throughout the world are also its victims. However, we shall also be the ones who will be victorious because no one can stop the march towards Humanity’s victory and a better tomorrow.

Now, more than ever before the Peoples Movement of the Left in Cyprus needs to stand at the forefront of the struggle defending the future of our homeland. We all realise now that with the policy being pursued by the government of Anastasiades and DISY party Cyprus is condemned to deadlocks and uncertainty.

It’s true that the main responsibility for the developments on the Cyprus problem lies with Turkey and those among the international community who tolerate its actions, thereby enhancing its aggressiveness. It is equally true however that Anastasiades assumed responsibility for the handling of the Cyprus problem with our own side being one step ahead both at the table of the negotiations and with regards international initiatives, without Reports questioning the rights of the Cypriot people as a whole, without anyone inside the international community doubting our will for a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Today, two years after Mr. Anastasiades assumed the handling of the Cyprus problem what have been the results? We haven’t managed to have substantive negotiations. Turkish aggressiveness is growing and though our cause is just the international community’s reactions range from timid to negative, particularly the reactions of the “friends” and “strategic partners” of Mr. Anastasiades which DISY party pinned so many hopes on but who have turned their backs. The possibilities of utilising natural gas without the solution of the Cyprus problem are being restricted, whilst we are increasingly being led nearer to partition. All of these developments cannot, and indeed must not be addressed by the President with outbreaks of Anger serving communication expediencies in the mass media. As a result of the governments handling bold decisions are required. We need to proceed without concessions on matters of principle, but also without escalating tension. Initiatives for a resumption of the negotiations, with the revocation of the Turkish NAVTEX and the withdrawal of the Turkish vessel “Barbaros” are a necessity. We need to reflect without any dogmatism whether the government’s much-advertised “reorientation” of Cyprus’ foreign policy has delivered positive results. Self-interest and the false sloganeering of the pre-election meetings must be abandoned. AKEL has tabled concrete proposals to President Anastasiades which without violating our “red lines” showed a way out concerning the basic issues that were raised in Cyprus and internationally with regards the issue of natural gas. Petty-political schemes and fixations even now must be abandoned and we assess the situation as it is in reality.

Last week a confidential document of the Finance Ministry was revealed which noted that public debt had reached 18.9 billion Euros and that 40% of this sum must be paid off in the next five years. What does this mean for the working people, the youth, farmers, small and middle businesses, pensioners and the unemployed? It means a new wave of austerity and cuts. What does it mean for the whole of society? It means sell-outs through privatisations that will break all the pre-election promises and post-election assurances of Mr. Anastasiades. Unfortunately, our people have gained bitter experiences from the pledges, but also proclamations, of the government of Anastasiades and DISY party. Two years after its election it is evident that nothing will remain standing. In the field of health, they have dismantled the National Health Scheme as this had been agreed to by all in order to serve a handful of companies. In the field of social welfare they are pulling social cohesion apart. With the implementation of the Guaranteed Minimum Income they have taken from the poor to give to the poorest, that it should be noted they have still not received. In education, school pupils, students and teachers feel the rope of the Memorandum tightening with the abolition of the right to education for all.

In conclusion, Mr. Anastasiades will lose day to day the support in practice of those who voted for him at the ballot box. This is why he is attempting through communication games, such as the proposal for a government of wider acceptance, to make impressions. AKEL neither wants, nor can it become a tool on which Mr. Anastasiades can base setbacks and regressions on the Cyprus problem, neither will AKEL open the way for him to impose further austerity, cuts and anti-social policies. If he really means his proposal, let him initiate a dialogue, a real dialogue to hear the views of the political forces and not call for help to impose his own policies.

We have a difficult path before us, an uphill struggle. We shall take this path until the very end! AON-EDON celebrates 70 years of life, struggles and service to youth and the country! I am certain that your Organisation will affirm in practice that the 70 years were just the beginning!

 

Long live EDON!

 

 

 

On behalf of the Central Committee of AKEL I address a warm and militant greeting to the youth of EDON, to the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth! It is with great joy that we are among you again. Among you we all feel young. With you, Cyprus can look to the future. Together with you the hope that Cyprus’ future can be different grows; a peaceful future, creating the conditions of prosperity for all Cypriots, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins.

Your slogan is very topical: “Their war kills whatever their peace has left over”. Just as Brecht wrote, their war kills; it kills people, hopes and dreams. It kills Palestinians, the elderly and the young, who are murdered by the Israeli army. It kills thousands in Kobane, thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan. Besides the dead, there are the living-dead, that is to say those forced to become refugees. The refugees from Syria alone number roughly 3 million.

Their war kills what their peace has left over. And their peace is for example costing the lives of 2 million people every year in accidents at work. Their peace is condemning over 2.2 billion people annually in poverty as a result of the global capitalist crisis and natural disasters. In their peace, just 2% of the world’s GDP is enough for all the world’s poor to have the elementary means to ensure their survival, at a time when the 400 richest people in the world own 5.7% of the world’s GDP.

This inequality is also reflected in imperialism’s and its allies policy. Those who incited fundamentalism by pursuing their policy of “divide and rule”, who backed fundamentalism in the past by every material means are the same forces that are today deploring its attacks and hypocritically shedding tears for its victims. They have created a monster and today they are fighting it in a way which – once again – serves their interests. Those forces who funded fundamentalism are the same ones who stood at the head of the excellently orchestrated march to protest against the attack on Charlie Hebdo; an attack which we denounce with all our forces and strength as barbarian, inhuman and anti-democratic. The monster they have created is simply out of their control, just like another Frankenstein.

“Je suis Charlie” became an international slogan in just a few hours. It’s true that we are all Charlie…However we are not only Charlie. We are also Palestinians who are struggling for justice and their own homeland. We are also the Turkish miners and workers who died fighting for a living wage. We are also victims of the brutal aggressions leaving peoples without a country; countries whose wealth has been stolen. We are also victims of a labour relations regime reminiscent of mediaeval times and slavery. Whatever enslaves peoples and sacrifices them for the sake of profit, we and the working people throughout the world are also its victims. However, we shall also be the ones who will be victorious because no one can stop the march towards Humanity’s victory and a better tomorrow.

Now, more than ever before the Peoples Movement of the Left in Cyprus needs to stand at the forefront of the struggle defending the future of our homeland. We all realise now that with the policy being pursued by the government of Anastasiades and DISY party Cyprus is condemned to deadlocks and uncertainty.

It’s true that the main responsibility for the developments on the Cyprus problem lies with Turkey and those among the international community who tolerate its actions, thereby enhancing its aggressiveness. It is equally true however that Anastasiades assumed responsibility for the handling of the Cyprus problem with our own side being one step ahead both at the table of the negotiations and with regards international initiatives, without Reports questioning the rights of the Cypriot people as a whole, without anyone inside the international community doubting our will for a solution of the Cyprus problem.

Today, two years after Mr. Anastasiades assumed the handling of the Cyprus problem what have been the results? We haven’t managed to have substantive negotiations. Turkish aggressiveness is growing and though our cause is just the international community’s reactions range from timid to negative, particularly the reactions of the “friends” and “strategic partners” of Mr. Anastasiades which DISY party pinned so many hopes on but who have turned their backs. The possibilities of utilising natural gas without the solution of the Cyprus problem are being restricted, whilst we are increasingly being led nearer to partition. All of these developments cannot, and indeed must not be addressed by the President with outbreaks of Anger serving communication expediencies in the mass media. As a result of the governments handling bold decisions are required. We need to proceed without concessions on matters of principle, but also without escalating tension. Initiatives for a resumption of the negotiations, with the revocation of the Turkish NAVTEX and the withdrawal of the Turkish vessel “Barbaros” are a necessity. We need to reflect without any dogmatism whether the government’s much-advertised “reorientation” of Cyprus’ foreign policy has delivered positive results. Self-interest and the false sloganeering of the pre-election meetings must be abandoned. AKEL has tabled concrete proposals to President Anastasiades which without violating our “red lines” showed a way out concerning the basic issues that were raised in Cyprus and internationally with regards the issue of natural gas. Petty-political schemes and fixations even now must be abandoned and we assess the situation as it is in reality.

Last week a confidential document of the Finance Ministry was revealed which noted that public debt had reached 18.9 billion Euros and that 40% of this sum must be paid off in the next five years. What does this mean for the working people, the youth, farmers, small and middle businesses, pensioners and the unemployed? It means a new wave of austerity and cuts. What does it mean for the whole of society? It means sell-outs through privatisations that will break all the pre-election promises and post-election assurances of Mr. Anastasiades. Unfortunately, our people have gained bitter experiences from the pledges, but also proclamations, of the government of Anastasiades and DISY party. Two years after its election it is evident that nothing will remain standing. In the field of health, they have dismantled the National Health Scheme as this had been agreed to by all in order to serve a handful of companies. In the field of social welfare they are pulling social cohesion apart. With the implementation of the Guaranteed Minimum Income they have taken from the poor to give to the poorest, that it should be noted they have still not received. In education, school pupils, students and teachers feel the rope of the Memorandum tightening with the abolition of the right to education for all.

In conclusion, Mr. Anastasiades will lose day to day the support in practice of those who voted for him at the ballot box. This is why he is attempting through communication games, such as the proposal for a government of wider acceptance, to make impressions. AKEL neither wants, nor can it become a tool on which Mr. Anastasiades can base setbacks and regressions on the Cyprus problem, neither will AKEL open the way for him to impose further austerity, cuts and anti-social policies. If he really means his proposal, let him initiate a dialogue, a real dialogue to hear the views of the political forces and not call for help to impose his own policies.

We have a difficult path before us, an uphill struggle. We shall take this path until the very end! AON-EDON celebrates 70 years of life, struggles and service to youth and the country! I am certain that your Organisation will affirm in practice that the 70 years were just the beginning!

 

Long live EDON!