Statements by the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou and replies to journalist’s questions

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 6 May 2019, Nicosia

I want to denounce in the strongest possible terms Turkey’s provocative actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus.

It is positive that there are some reactions that I would characterize as lukewarm of course. Our hope and wish is to have such reactions that will yield a result. I want to remind you that the Foreign Minister was repeatedly engaging in triumphalism by declaring that the tripartite partnerships (Cyprus-Greece-Israel) that the government is forging and the close cooperation that is being developed with the US has shielded the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus. We therefore view with concern all these developments, which certainly create problems also with regards the resumptions of negotiations, but also primarily because they also expose the argument that the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus has been shielded. We will therefore await from the government to hear the big talk it has been saying throughout this whole period to find a way to be put into practice.

Turkey’s action to send the Turkish drilling vessel “Fatih” raises logical questions about Turkey’s stand as to the next steps on the Cyprus problem.

The tragic thing for us is that Turkey is doing all this by accusing us of unwillingness to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem. I repeat that this is tragic because the international community isn’t reacting resolutely by supporting with determination the Republic of Cyprus and stating clearly to Turkey that you are responsible for the fact that there has not been a solution to the Cyprus problem so far.

What is actually being done is an expression of support for the right, which is the absolute right of the Republic of Cyprus, to exercise our sovereign rights in the EEZ. That is not enough. We must convey the message and be sincere, of course, that we are ready for the immediate resumption of negotiations.

We, as AKEL, consider that the only way to deal with Turkey’s provocative actions is precisely by doing precisely that. That is, to convince the international community that we are ready, not just to resume negotiations, but also to proceed towards a solution to the Cyprus problem, provided that Turkey will respond to the agreed framework.

Is there perhaps a danger that we will enter into negotiations or for them to call us to engage in a Crans Montana-type framework, in the presence of Turkey and within the Cypriot EEZ, and Turkey to be preparing for drilling?

I want to believe that this will not happen. We are waiting to see the results of the government’s handling. The government has been engaging in big talk all through this period, the Foreign Minister in particular. So we want this big talk to be applied in practice.

In relation to the references made by the President of the ruling Democratic Rally DISY party and the President of the Republic?

It is evident that as a result of the outcry by public opinion, the President of the Republic and the leader of the DISY party are under great pressure. And I think that the panic they are under is now clearly visible. This outcry in our view is not accidental. It is the result of the everyday scandals that are springing up like mushrooms. It is the result of the ridicule that the Republic of Cyprus has suffered because of the “golden passports” scheme. It is the result of the collapse of the Cyprus Cooperative Bank and the deceptive way in which the government tried to address both the investigation committee, as well as its findings on the selloff of the Coop Bank. It is also a result of the fact that they did not correctly deal from the first moment with the erroneous handlings made by a small section of the police force, and which resulted in a series of murders being committed and for the loss of human lives.

All this has led to an extremely negative climate having been created against the government and the DISY party. How are Mr. Anastasiades and DISY President Mr. Neophytou trying to address all this? They are doing so by adopting extreme behaviors, extremist arguments and using fake news, demanding at the same time from AKEL that it expresses its position on fake news which they themselves are fabricating. I am referring to what we, supposedly, are saying to the Turkish Cypriots – good grief! I have repeatedly set out our position on the symbolism of the candidacy of Niyazi Kizilyurek.  And I regret because, because of the panic that has overcome them, Mr. Anastasiades and Mr. Neophytou are demeaning the level of political life in our country.

We are not therefore going to follow them on their downhill path. We will outline our positions and views, insisting that society can think for itself, that it can judge matters and that it will take a stand as to each and everyone’s actions.

What is most surprising is that although a large section of society, the overwhelming majority of society, expresses its position in a specific way over all of these government handlings, the government chooses to attack only AKEL. And indeed with this extremist and ultra-right way that it chooses to pursue. It is their right of course. I repeat, however, that we have no desire to follow them on this downhill path. Let them take this path by themselves.

As regards N. Kizilyurek you have said that he had cooperated with the President?

But until recently Mr. Kizilyurek was an advisor to the President of the Republic. Have they all of a sudden remembered that Niyazi Kizilyurek is a danger to Cyprus? A man who has been living in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus for 31 years, is a Professor at the University of Cyprus, a man who is in favor of Federation and the solution of Bi-Zonal Bi-communal Federation, a man consistent to the friendship between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Does such a person represent a danger to Cyprus? This is absurd and laughable.

However, you have been accused as AKEL of never having apologized to the 13 victims of the Mari navy base blast, unlike the government which has apologized.

Mr. Anastasiades has a very short memory. If he made the effort to follow what Demetris Christofias and AKEL were saying back then, he would ascertain that from the first moments we had apologized for that tragic accident. The amazing thing, however, in the case we are discussing right now, is that Mr. Anastasiades roughly thinks he done a favor to the families of the victim because he apologized to them since they were foreign working women. There is no better example of racism than this, let me say. And it is a shame because this was said by the President of the Republic

The President yesterday referred to AKEL by saying it has impoverished society and he talked about the achievements of the Anastasiades government.

Let me say that the entire international community experienced an economic crisis whose consequences also had an effect on the Cyprus economy. Therefore, it is not AKEL that has impoverished Cypriot society. It is the economic policies of the fraternal parties of Nikos Anastasiades and Averof Neophytou which led to the outbreak of the global economic crisis.

They talk about a supposed “success story”.

Where is this “success story”?

Let’s look at the situation in society. More than 200,000 of our compatriots live on the threshold or below the poverty line.

Seven out of ten young people and eight out of ten young people are forced to live with their families even though they are approaching the age of 30 because they do not have the salary to rent an apartment or acquire a home.

So the government should see these realities and stop its sloganeering trying to mislead public opinion and society as a whole.