Statements by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL A.Kyprianou οn the results of the EU Foreign Ministers
Cyprus has been isolated
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd September 2020, Nicosia
The results of the EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting were disappointing. Firstly, it has unfortunately been proved once again that the EU takes a position based on a double standards. This is something that disturbs us. Of course, we consider that the government should have known all of this as it has eight years of experience now.
I don’t hide from you that we are extremely worried. All through this recent period, that is, since last August, when this debate around the issue of sanctions against Turkey began, the government was making a great deal of promises. Especially recently, it had declared that sanctions would be imposed that would dampen Turkish intransigence and force Turkey to cooperate in the effort for a resumption of substantive negotiations on the Cyprus problem.
We regret to say that yesterday’s results are disappointing, in the sense that, unfortunately, Cyprus has been isolated. We have not seen Cyprus’ European partner’s support the position Cyprus has expressed and for which the government had been absolutely certain that the full support of the EU had been won. We are also concerned that, unfortunately, all that is now being discussed as far as Cyprus is concerned has to do exclusively with sanctions.
AKEL believes that the important issue and priority for Cyprus is the solution of the Cyprus problem. The goal must be to resume substantive negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement on the agreed basis, namely on the basis of European and International Law, the High-Level Agreements and the relevant Resolutions of the UN. Instead, we conclude that the whole effort is being exclusively focused on sanctions.
We are extremely concerned about what will happen at the EU Summit and the fact that Cyprus, I repeat, is once again isolated and at a dead end. These are critical moments, I would not like to expand on our own assessment of the government’s handlings. We will wait to see what will happen at the Summit meeting and will express our position accordingly.
Journalist’s questions to the General Secretary of AKEL
Has Cyprus run out of allies?
AK: I consider it is confirmed that the government’s tactics have not yielded results, at least so far. I reiterate, we will wait until Thursday. It is a very critical time and we shall see how things develop. We have our own opinions, however I reserve the right to express them in more detail after the Summit.
Are you satisfied with the visit of the President of Greece Mrs. Sakellaropoulou and her statements with regards the support and cooperation that exists with the Greek state?
AK: Let me just say that we had a private meeting with Mrs. Sakellaropoulou, all the political leaders together, and I want to express our complete satisfaction with what we have heard from the President of the Greek Republic.
I don’t hide from you that we are worried about the fact that not even Greece supported us in the positions Cyprus expressed at the EU Foreign Ministers’ Summit. This must ring an alarm bell for the government as to its handlings. I won’t go any further on the matter. I don’t want to say anything more right now because of the critical nature of the situation.
