Statements of Andros Kyprianou on the development of Cyprus Problem
Statements of Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL
Sunday 14th February 2016, “CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY”
There will be no solution to the Cyprus problem if Turkey insists on unacceptable positions, declared Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of AKEL, invited today to comment on a report in the “Phileleftheros” newspaper according to which Ankara had made it clear, at the highest political level, to the EU that the Republic of Cyprus was “defunct.”
In his statements made in Limassol at the presentation of the AKEL parliamentary candidates for the districts of Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta, Mr. Kyprianou said that our response to such positions of Turkey is very clear. “If they persist in such positions there will be no solution to the Cyprus problem and the consequences, while they will of course be negative for us, will also be negative for Turkey as well,” he pointed out.
He added that, “Turkey must understand that if it really wants to improve its position in the region, if it wants to create perspectives that will enable it to play the role it wants to play in the region, it must cooperate with us, based on principles, to solve the Cyprus problem.”
So long as it adheres to such approaches, we say to them clearly that there won’t be a solution, stated Andros Kyprianou, adding that such positions are poisoning the climate and do not allow us to move forward as fast as we would like.
At the same time, the General Secretary of AKEL said that what should interest us is to fight at the negotiating table to ensure that the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus will be given.
“For us, this issue is a sine qua non and prerequisite, that is to say, we will not accept a solution if the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus is not provided for,” he added.
Despite Turkey’s positions, a possible suspension of the negotiations, noted Mr. Kyprianou, is not in our interest, since, as he stressed, “Those who are first and foremost urgently seeking to solve the Cyprus problem – not any kind of solution though, but a solution within the agreed framework, is us.”
“We are living through the negative consequences of the invasion and continuing occupation. We want a solution of the Cyprus problem, and we must struggle to achieve the fundamental principles, so as to reach an agreement,” said the General Secretary of AKEL.
Developments in Syria
Asked to comment on the developments in Syria, Mr. Kyprianou said that these are worrying “because the more tense the situation in our region becomes, the more will the efforts for a solution of the Cyprus problem be hindered.”
Furthermore, the General Secretary of AKEL also expressed the view that from the moment that Turkey will be occupied by these developments the Cyprus problem will be adversely affected. However, he noted, the most important of all is that these developments threaten peace in the wider region.
“Not that peace prevails at this moment. We have to say that, unfortunately, the imperialist interventions have led to instability and conflict in Syria and other countries, and we believe that these interventions must finally be terminated,” he said.
The General Secretary of AKEL also addressed an appeal in all directions “to respect all that has been agreed two days ago, for a ceasefire and for everyone to focus their attention on fighting ISIS, which is a real danger for all humanity, not only for the region Middle East”.
