Speech of the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL A. Kyprianou at the AKEL Nicosia-Kyrenia 26th District Organization Conference
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 28th May 2017, Nicosia
On behalf of the C.C. of AKEL I address a warm greeting to the AKEL Nicosia-Kyrenia District Conference. I wish every success in its deliberations
Your Conference is convening in critical circumstances, both on an international and national level. I will focus on domestic issues.
The talks to resolve the Cyprus problem are just a few steps away from breaking down. Major issues, health and local government reforms, the issue of education and social benefits, policies for a better tomorrow for the country and people aren’t among the top priorities of the government’s agenda. Everything is beginning to be subordinated to serve pre-election expediencies. It is more than obvious that Mr. Anastasiades and the ruling DISY Democratic Rally party have decided to focus their attention on the ballot box, rather than Cyprus.
One can’t explain their stance with regards the handling of the Cyprus problem otherwise. I just want to recall what Mr. Anastasiades attributed to D. Christofias in 2010, the year in which convergences were recorded and great progress was registered on the Cyprus problem. He accused him of going on to become “the President of the “Taiwanization” of the Cyprus problem”. Let alone recall his behavior in general. I really wonder what we ought to correspondingly say about his behavior and stance today.
AKEL, from the very outset, stressed that it would not act with revenge against Mr. Anastasiades for the vulgar and destructive opposition he himself and his party followed during the presidency of D. Christofias. We will not reply to this attack in the same way as they did, for the sake of Cyprus.
We have put the interests of the country and people over and above petty-party considerations and expediencies. We supported the procedure that had begun to solve the Cyprus problem. We did so because we are a patriotic party; because we want to serve the goal of a solution that will be based on principles and the agreed framework.
Towards this end, we were trying to be serious, responsible and constructive. Disregarding political costs, we have assumed all the political burden. In saying political burden, I do not of course mean what they attribute to us, namely as “support of N. Anastasiades”. I mean our support for the procedure and commitment and consistency to AKEL’s political positions; insistence on our long-standing policy on the Cyprus problem. Suffice to remind everyone that in the first year of the Anastasiades Presidency, we stood alone against all the other political parties when we argued that the policy followed at that time was wrong.
It was then that Mr. Anastasiades sought to start negotiations from scratch. We had warned him that this would lead to adventures. He did not listen to us. He preferred to follow the advice of the parties of the so-called intermediate space. The consequences are known to all. We received the worst UN Secretary-General‘s report for the Greek Cypriot side since 2004. For a joint declaration to be agreed with Mr. Eroglu, we sustained losses in relation to the Christofias-Talat joint communiqués, while the Turkish exploratory vessel “Barbaros” got near to the Port of Limassol.
Eventually, when Mr. Anastasiades decided to listen to AKEL and make use of the Christofias-Talat convergences progress began to be recorded. We supported the whole procedure to this day, despite the fact that Mr. Anastasiades was proceeding with unilateral actions and decisions; despite the fact that we disagreed with the handlings he made and which damaged our cause; despite the fact that instead of consistency he showed contradictions and regressions.
I will reiterate once again that Turkey bears the main responsibility for the non-solution of the Cyprus problem with its intransigent and unacceptable positions.
The question is, how should those who are seeking the solution of the Cyprus problem behave?
Do we make it easier for Turkey to achieve its goals or do we facilitate it with our stance?
Only by pursuing a consistent policy both on the substance and procedural issues will we put pressure on Turkey, forcing it to state its position on the core issues.
Unfortunately, it is now very clear that Mr. Anastasiades has set sail for the 2018 Presidential elections. Once again, his DISY party appears ready to sacrifice Cyprus to serve its aspirations. They did the same in 1993, repeated it in 1998 and 2013, and they are doing so again today. Worst of all they don’t seem to understand that this time it may be fatal. There is a danger of the procedure breaking down or even collapsing.
We address an appeal and at the same time a warning to Mr. Anastasiades.
He needs to exhaust all the possibilities for a solution. Firm on principles and flexibility in tactics, he should make every effort to come to an understanding. If not, the responsibility should be borne by the other side. Otherwise, Cyprus will enter into terrible adventures. We will find ourselves on a moving quicksand that we don’t know where it will eventually lead us to.
The parties of the so-called intermediate spectrum must be pleased with Mr. Anastasiades’ transformation and turn in direction. Day after day he is now identifying with them. But this change will make things difficult for them because if they say the same things how they will win the race for power? It is obvious that is paramount in their decisions is the elections and not what our country’s prospects will be. This is confirmed by the fact that DIKO, EDEK and “Solidarity” agreed first to the person they will support for the candidacy without discussing any principles. They only projected the slogan of “New Strategy”.
Does the repetition of old prescriptions constitute a “new strategy”?
Does the rejection of everything represent a “new strategy”?
Is reconciling the incompatible a “new strategy”?
DIKO says it wants a bi-communal, bizonal federation with the right content.
EDEK has officially renounced bi-zonal, bi-communal federation.
“Solidarity” party is seeking a unitary state.
How can all these positions be compatible?
Everyone can understand that this alliance is not an alliance for Cyprus, but a cooperation of parties seeking to win the presidential chair.
This alliance under the leadership of DIKO President Mr. Nicholas Papadopoulos repeatedly echoes the motto of the need for a “new strategy”. When we talk about strategy, we mean the sought goal.
For AKEL the goal remains the continuity of the Republic of Cyprus and its transformation into a bi-communal, bizonal federation with political equality, as defined in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Strategy is one thing, tactics something else, namely what handling of the Cyprus problem must be made to fulfill our goal. Tactics can’t be static and depend on the concrete given conditions.
We all agree that the Cyprus problem is mainly an international problem of Turkish invasion and occupation; a problem concerning the violation of the human rights of the Cypriot people as a whole, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. However, the problem also has its internal dimension, which cannot be overlooked.
The compromise of bicommunal, bizonal federation was accepted not because it was ignorant of the substance of the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, federation was accepted precisely because it was fully aware of the consequences of the coup d’état and the invasion and occupation; of the need to create the conditions for the lifting of the partitionist faits accompli. Bicommunal bizonal federation is the compromise that we have accepted as a result of the treacherous coup and the barbarian Turkish invasion.
It is very important that this bitter, but uncontestable historical truth, never escapes our attention.
Bicommunal, bizonal federation as the intended solution of the Cyprus problem is included in the First-Level Agreement between Makarios and Denktas of 1977. Since then, it has been reaffirmed in all the High-Level Agreements. It has also been reaffirmed by all Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus and has been adopted by the UN Security Council in all its resolutions.
It is also AKEL’s long-standing position, which is enshrined in a series of United Nations resolutions and in the two Christofias – Talat Joint Communiques, that federal Cyprus will have a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. Finally, it will have political equality as set out in the relevant United Nations resolutions. This is what AKEL means when it firmly insists on the strategy and framework of the solution that have been agreed since 1977.
The question is: Can we change strategy after so many years?
Have the given conditions and the balance of forces greatly changed in our favour so that we are in a position, without suffering dire consequences, to successfully attempt such an action?
Therefore what do these forces and circles mean when they talk about a “new strategy”?
I am very afraid that even they themselves cannot give an answer, apart from making some vague references.
AKEL is committed to our strategic goal and the need to keep the prospect of a solution of the Cyprus problem alive.
Mr. Anastasiades and his associates in their attempt to justify his transformation and mutation are attempting to cultivate the notion that AKEL is supposedly putting pressure for more concessions. This is a lie and they know this very well. What we have to say about the essence of the Cyprus problem we do so with courage, boldness and transparency to the people. On the procedural issues, what we are interested in is not to suspend the talks and with them to lose the hope of reuniting the country. This of course doesn’t mean that unacceptable Turkish demands must be accepted that will put us in a distressing position.
We challenge these circles and forces who claim that AKEL is criticizing Mr. Anastasiades so as to serve some pre-election expediencies. Well, prove it. Let Mr. Anastasiades make the right steps that are needed and we will immediately determine whether AKEL means what it says.
People are tired of seeing their hopes being destroyed for the sake of serving petty-election considerations; tired of watching petty-political tricks.
It wants to see politicians who can do their all and support the vision of peace.
It wants to see genuine will and sincerity, courage and determination.
It wants leaders ready to fight to defeat the danger of partition, the danger that our people will not survive in the land that gave birth to it.
Furthermore, the people are tired of the President’s “I pledge to…” which were broken from the very beginning of his term. Now the people laugh at the slogans that Mr. Anastasiades inundated the people with at that time. “The crisis demands a leader,” he told us. What we saw anything but recalled the behavior of a “leader”. Where are the investments the “leader” would bring us? Where are Mr. Anastasiades’ powerful connections and friends that would bring the kick start of the economy?
So, what has been Mr. Anastasiades’ performance?
The middle strata of Cyprus has been crushed.
One-third of the population is threatened by poverty.
Thousands of young people have migrated or do not return to Cyprus after completing their studies.
Unemployment remains high.
Employment rates are fixed at 2014 levels.
Social spending has fallen further from 2013 onwards – cuts of over 127 million Euros in social benefits and more than 100 million Euros in Health annually.
Pensioners have seen their standard of living drop by 30%.
Today, Cyprus is one of the countries that registers an increase in working poor.
And how did the government respond to all this?
It responded with the Minimum Guaranteed Income. That is, they have taken from the poor to give the poorest. The result of this policy has been recorded: the gap in social inequality is growing sharply since 2013 onwards.
The poor became more and poorer, while the rich became richer.
It is a fact that some steps have been taken as regards economic indicators. However, these statistics do not reflect the situation in the real economy.
DIKO President Nikolas Papadopoulos should not attempt to distance himself from these policies because he himself was and is the bastion of support and a prop of the ruling DISY party to implement its economic policy and impose its philosophy.
Nikolas Papadopoulos was constantly and vigorously defending together with the DISY President Averof Neophytou, the former Governor of the Central Bank Thanasis Orphanides. He was vehemently accusing D. Christofias of not reappointing him to his post.
Together with Averof Neophytou he voted for all the laws that reduced the revenues of the Christofias government.
Together with DISY President Neophytou he voted in favour of the crucial bills on foreclosures, privatizations and much more.
Together they canceled all the reforms of the previous government in education, local government and health.
They acted together so that all these issues of concern to many people are now pending.
All this represents the framework within which we will wage the battle of the upcoming Presidential Elections. I repeat that we will take our decisions collectively. What is certain is that we will not put personalities/figures over and above principles. The candidacy AKEL will support will be a winning candidacy; a candidate who will put a progressive socio-economic policy proposal before the people and who will follow a policy on the Cyprus problem based on principles; a candidate who will stand in opposition to nationalism, conservatism, intolerance, combating intertwining interests and corruption; a candidate who will give a perspective and a hope to Cyprus.
These will be the characteristics of the candidacy AKEL will support. We are in a period of fermentation and discussion, culminating in the convening of an Extraordinary Congress that will take the final decisions. I understand the anguish of friends and foes.
The aspiration with which the people are anticipating AKEL’s decisions proves that none of the current presidential candidacies satisfy it. Neither Mr. Anastasiades, nor Mr. Papadopoulos or Mr. Lillikas.
The people expect AKEL to support a presidential candidate that will be embraced by the wider strata of the people; a candidate that will represent a real change. Everyone should rest assured that this is precisely our goal. As we have said many times: AKEL takes its decisions collectively, and not one person deciding for everyone else.
Things must change. Only AKEL can change them. The main political force that can change things is AKEL. However, AKEL is not just its General Secretary and District Secretaries. AKEL is every one of us; it’s all of you. It is all of the people who for decades have been unselfishly and proudly supporting our Party. We have to grow much stronger if we want to move forward.
Conclusions are no longer enough. It is not enough to say and discuss things between us. A lot of important work has been done during the recent municipal elections, which to some extent has recovered the losses we sustained in the parliamentary elections. But we have many things to do to create the preconditions for AKEL to fully gain the position it deserves.
The District Organization must play its leading role in this direction. We must be very strict, beginning with ourselves. No member of the District Committee should be without specific duties. It’s inconceivable for a member of the District Committee not to fulfill the duties of a Party member and militant.
Times are difficult. Our fulltime cadre mechanism is reduced and our tasks can only be carried out if party members have a mass participation. No more despondency and murmuring. If each of us talked less and worked more then things would be very different. We’ve said it many times. The party base organization is the core and living organism of the Party. That’s where our efforts have to focus on – on the recruitment of new members, the renewal of the party base organizations, the Party’s daily contact with the people, the strengthening of our intervention on local problems. By saying this, I also stress the importance of conducting a free and frank dialogue between us, as well as of criticism and self-criticism.
We are different because we are members of AKEL.
We are members of AKEL because we are different.
This difference must be visible and apparent every day.
It must be discernible in every action we take, every initiative we take in our daily work.
This difference must inspire those who follow us; be an example to those who follow us and guide ourselves.
This difference has kept AKEL for nine decades very high in the people’s esteem and consciousness. We are struggling for Cyprus with dedication, ethos, honesty, self-denial and enthusiasm; for our people to live together, to make the lives of the many better; for the dawn of a new day where society will have broken its chains.
We have a vision that goes much further than any electoral campaigns, public opinion polls and exit polls. We have a vision for tomorrow.
We’ve said it many times. We are proud of our 90 years of glorious and honored history for the worker, farmer, employee, the people of intellectual and manual labour, the people of the arts and letters.
We have been waging struggles for more than nine decades. But history is ahead of us because we are the ones who have the power to work together as one force.
We are the ones who unite many people in the battles for tomorrow.
We are the ones who put the future of Cyprus, the future of its people, over and above everything else.
We are the ones who can give hope, grateful for our veterans who built the People’s Movement of the Left, proud of our youth who hold our hope in their hands.
We are the ones who can and will take Cyprus forward.
Let’s make today’s Conference the new starting point for Nicosia!
For Cyprus!
For the people!
