The aim is the de-escalation and start of a dialogue for a solution to the problems, including the Cyprus problem too
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL on the MED7 Summit Declaration
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11th September 2020, Nicosia
The declaration of the MED7 Summit includes important positive references about Cyprus and its sovereign rights, which are being violated by Turkey.
We point out the support of the seven Mediterranean states towards the goal of resuming negotiations from the point of where they had remained at the Crans Montana Conference in 2017. The aim is to achieve a “viable comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant Resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations…”
The Declaration includes clear warnings to Turkey for its aggressive stance and issues an appeal towards the EU to make use of the tools of sanctions if Turkey’s illegal actions continue. It goes without saying that in the event that Turkey’s illegal actions continue, the forthcoming European Council must proceed to a substantial escalation of sanctions on Turkey.
It is inconceivable that at the same time as sanctions against Russia were renewed yesterday and sanctions were recently imposed on Venezuela, when sanctions are being sought to be imposed on Belarus, the EU leaves Turkey to go unpunished for its illegal actions.
We point out that sanctions are neither an end in themselves, nor can they solve the problems we face with Turkey. They are a tool for promoting the goal of de-escalation and the start of a dialogue to resolve the problems, including the Cyprus problem.
