Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou, during his tour in the district of Paphos
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 21st April 2021, Nicosia
Partition is a matter of time if the President continues his handling of the Cyprus problem – the President has lost his credibility
On the Cyprus problem
“I’ve seen with discomfort President Anastasiades’ statements on the Cyprus problem and the accusations that he has once again levelled against AKEL. These are unacceptable and unsubstantiated accusations that he should address to himself.
He characteristically said that he will not give Turkey the right to control the rest of Cyprus as well. With all due respect, let me just say that if he continues to handle the Cyprus problem in the way he is handling it, it’s a matter of time before the partition of Cyprus becomes a reality. We should subsequently expect Turkey to start thinking the day after about how it will manage exercise control over the rest of Cyprus as well. There should be no doubt whatsoever about that. We have explained our clear positions, which cannot be distorted by anyone.
We told Mr. Anastasiades that he’s right to say what he’s saying, but it is not enough, first and foremost because they don’t belie him, as he has lost his credibility internationally
Secondly, it’s not enough because he hasn’t realised that 3.5 years have passed that have provoked huge problems to the solution of the Cyprus problem. We suggested to him that without deviating from issues of principle and giving away anything, he should from the beginning seeing everything as a whole package that he could discuss some issues both with regards the negotiation process, but also natural gas, provided of course that Turkey will also be ready to discuss the remaining issues.
What we are saying to Mr. Anastasiades is that he should set priorities. We believe that the principal goal should be to manage to create those preconditions in Geneva that will permit the resumption of the negotiations. If this goal is not achievable then the second goal should be that the responsibility for the collapse (of the talks) should be put exclusively on the Turkish side, so that the Greek Cypriot side won’t also be apportioned responsibilities and so that we will be able to prevent new fait accompli that Turkey will attempt after the Geneva Conference because we must have no doubt whatsoever that Turkey will attempt to drill in our Exclusive Economic Zone. It will attempt to proceed to impose fait accompli in Varosha.
We believe that these must be the goals Mr. Anastasiades must set and to find a way to fulfill them. We, as we have repeatedly said, will judge him by the end result, but we await that he will prioritize these goals and fulfill them.”
Meeting with fishermen
“We have listened very carefully to the problems fishermen face in Paphos. We have agreed that they’ll send us a memorandum recording the overall problems they face. However, I would like to refer to some that I consider very important.
First and foremost, the most important issue – which concerns the whole of Cyprus, of course – is that decisions shouldn’t be taken without their own opinion being heard, namely the opinion of the very people who live every day these problems in their field of work. It is in the interest of the state, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Fisheries that the views of fishermen are heard, the people who are in the sea, everyday, trying to fish. They know better than anyone what needs to be done and how problems facing their sector should be addressed.
The second thing I would like to say, regarding the Port of Paphos and the problems fishermen face in Paphos, is the need to make improvements in the Port’s facilities that will enable them on the one hand to protect their properties and boats, but at the same time, and in general the Port, should be protected by projects and works to improve it that need to be done.
Thirdly and most importantly, I consider it inconceivable that the Mayor of Paphos has not provided them with an entrance card to the area here so that they can transfer the various tools they have for fishing, their very profession in essence. I therefore think that the Mayor and the Municipality of Paphos have the obligation to help these people. As an industry, it is already facing many difficulties which have worsened to a great extent because of the pandemic, such as the fact that hotels have not been working. As there were no restaurants operating, fishermen’s work has been reduced to a great extent. So they face many objective difficulties, they don’t need to be made even more difficult. AKEL will work with them to see how we help them solve their problems.”
Visit to the central station of the Paphos Transport Organization
“Let me just that it’s inconceivable that buses are transferred to an area where the necessary infrastructure do not exist. First and foremost, for the safety and comfort of passengers in the sense that there should be an asphalt pavement of the area, there should be marked points where buses should be parked and passengers looking to find their bus at the risk of getting struck by a bus.
The second concerns the problems staff face. It is inconceivable for the staff not to have the necessary sanitary facilities, but also a dining room to be able to eat. This is unacceptable. We proceed to make representations towards the Ministry of Communications, but I consider that the Paphos Municipality also has a role to play…”
