Statement by Christos Christophides, AKEL Political Bureau member
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 16th August 2017, Nicosia
It is clear, unfortunately, that for the United Nations Turkey is once again relieved of any responsibility, Christos Christofides said, commenting on the statement of the UN Secretary-General yesterday that the parties in Cyprus are going through a period of reflection.
The member of the Political Bureau of AKEL said that the UN has once again left whatever developments depending on the will of the parties in Cyprus, while Turkey is not being apportioned any responsibility. “And this is a very worrying situation because at the same time as the occupation is being perpetuated, Turkey is taking decisions to consolidate the occupation and partition (decisions on the Maronite villages and the plans that are in progress in relation to Famagusta), the international community is not laying the responsibility for both the collapse of the talks in Crans Montana and the current impasse and the sad situation in the Cyprus problem on Turkey.”
This should worry everyone, said Christos Christofides. The picture that the two sides in Cyprus are responsible for the current situation, but also about what will happen next, he said, removes Turkey from the picture. It allows Turkey to continue to pursue its plans unhindered, while at the same time it also puts on our side part of the responsibility for how we have arrived to this precise point, but mainly about how we continue further on.
On the occasion of the occupation of Morfou
Forty-three years onwards Morfou is becoming distant. The soul and heart of all those of us who were raised as citizens of Morfou, who have grown up with the desire to return, is being torn apart. The memories of these 43 years are growing stronger, with the understanding that every day that goes by the struggle and effort for a solution becomes even more difficult.
In statements after handing in the resolution of the refugees from Morfou to the President of the Republic and Fotis Fotiou, Christos Christofides said that despite this, “we cannot compromise with the selling-off of half of our country to Turkey. We have an obligation to those who have passed away and to the future generations to persist, to continue the struggle, hoping that as soon as possible, this troubled homeland will finally see the hope blooming on the land of Morfou, Famagusta, Kyrenia and throughout the whole of Cyprus “.
