STATEMENT BY ANDROS KYPRIANOU, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF AKEL,

 

 

I welcome the spirit of understanding and consensus that prevailed in this morning’s meeting aimed at finding ways to face the problems of our economy.  I wish and hope that this climate will be maintained.

 

The decision to create a National Investments Fund constitutes a small but significant step towards facing our financial problems by our own forces. I express the certainty of mass support to this effort since our people’s feeling of patriotic responsibility is very high.

 

The path towards a radical tackling of the problem is still very long.  We in AKEL reiterate our strong disagreement with the recent agreement between the Eurogroup and Mr Anastasiades.  It is evident that the Eurogroup took a decision mainly on political criteria and not on strictly economic criteria.  The aim is to enslave the Republic of Cyprus economically and to exercise political domination over it.  If we were to allow something of the kind, we have no doubt whatsoever, that it would have had extremely negative consequences against the efforts we exert for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the use of our natural wealth in benefit of the people of Cyprus.

 

The reactions of our European partners to the rejection of their unacceptable agreement with the Cypriot Government, reaffirms our concerns that had we accepted it that would have not been the end of the path, but just the beginning of new hardships for the Cypriot people.  Acceptance of the Troika’s unprecedented demands, which violate decisions of EU bodies, would lead us to a vicious circle of new even more painful demands.  It is obvious to every European citizen that the dominant circles of the European Union chose to move in a vindictive way towards Cyprus, at the same time when they caress Turkey -a country that has been for almost four decades occupying illegally part of the Cypriot territory.

 

This is why we as AKEL insist that we should seek the solution of our problems outside the Troika framework; based on our own forces but also on the support of countries that have reasons to help us.

 

Since there are still different views as to where we would be led by accepting the Troika proposals and the vicious circle that would follow, we propose that the decisions on whether the sought solution should be inside or outside the Troika,  be taken by the Cypriot people.  From our point of view, on such a highly critical issue that will be influencing our lives for years to come, our decisions should be taken in a Referendum to be held the soonest possible.

 

Already on Monday we proposed to Mr Anastadiades to ask assistance from Mr.Putin, the Russian President, and we have helped arrange the telephone conversation between them.  We welcome the efforts that are under way and express our readiness to go to Russia with Mr. Anastasiades, when his meeting with Mr. Putin is set.  We consider that the presence of all political leaders in Moscow will facilitate taking immediate decisions, should that be necessary.

 

AKEL calls on the Cypriot people to remain calm but at the same time resolute.  We are indeed facing very difficult moments that will define the future of our country.  However, this is not the first time when united and in a collective way we have faced and overcome similar difficulties.