The General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou replies to journalists’ questions on current affairs issues
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd June 2020, Nicosia
Since yesterday, you have been strongly criticized by ruling DISY party about your positions. You are being accused of adopting a destructive approach, that you are overlooking Turkey’s responsibilities on the Cyprus problem and that you aren’t criticising what Turkey is doing.
AK: It would have been strange had DISY not been disturbed. DISY understands that it is exposed to a great extent, which is precisely why it is reacting as it does. I will comment on both accusations in a very simple way. First and foremost, I will reply to the accusation that AKEL is supposedly engaging in a barren and destructive opposition. We can’t in any way be compared with how DISY itself behaved towards Demetris Christofias and especially the behaviour of the current President of ruling DISY Mr. Neophytou. So let them make the comparison and I think they will be silent.
As far as the Cyprus problem is concerned, I also saw the government’s statement the day before yesterday when it said that AKEL isn’t criticizing Turkey. The AKEL Press Office replied and in that specific statement I had made 6 references denouncing Turkey’s aggression. I therefore wonder how many times I have to denounce Turkey to satisfy DISY.
For me, the most important thing is something else. That they have developed a mentality that says that no one has the right to say anything different from what they are saying. Whoever says something different is branded an enemy of the people. That’s how they approach matters. It reminds me of Kourkoulos’ film “Enemy of the People”. That is to say, if anyone dares to tell the truth, he/she must burn in eternal hellfire because they are ruining the image that the government and DISY are trying to build up. They must face up to the fact that AKEL will not be silent.
There is an attempt to forge some cooperation in view of the upcoming electoral confrontations. Especially with DIKO, does it seem that – at least from the criticism you are facing – that there is a procedure as regards an attempt at establishing some kind of a front?
AK: It is too early to talk about that. We have before us the Party Congress that will convene this coming November and following that parliamentary elections. That’s when we shall start debating more specifically about cooperations because local elections will follow and then presidential elections. And that’s where cooperations are primarily attempted. What I am saying – and I will continue to say – no matter how much DISY may be annoyed – is that AKEL will seek co-operation on the basis of a political framework, focusing on the Cyprus problem and the economy in an effort to bring about a change in the country’s administration in 2023. Do you know what’s amazing? When DISY cooperates with anyone – we heard that ELAM was also approached by DISY during the previous presidential elections – then there isn’t any problem at all. When AKEL says that on the basis of principles, on the basis of very clear positions, it will seek to forge cooperation, then they are annoyed. That’s their problem.
You say the main axis is the Cyprus problem for a sought cooperation. This means that this would exclude DIKO, given that you have major differences with DIKO on the Cyprus problem.
No one is excluded. What I am saying is that the candidate we will find must have a policy that can rally social movements and political parties around him/her. Political parties will study the candidate’s program and decide whether they can support it. This is our approach. I repeat, we are still a long way off from that, let’s leave the matter for after the parliamentary elections.
Are there personalities that could bridge the gap between AKEL and DIKO?
In my opinion, there are personalities who can indeed lead efforts for a change in the governance of the country. Let’s leave the matter for when the time comes.
As regards the checkpoints issue. Things seem to have changed somewhat today with the change in the occupation regime’s tactics.
We have stressed from the very outset that the government should take initiatives to put more pressure on Mr. Tatar and Mr. Ozersay, because Mr. Akinci’s position is different to that of Mr. Tatar and Mr. Ozersay. It appears that we were absolutely correct in our assessment that as soon as the government announced the opening of some checkpoints, the Turkish Cypriot community too, Mr. Tatar and Mr. Ozersay, were also forced to proceed with the opening.
I must say that I still have questions as to why the checkpoint at Ledra hasn’t opened. I think the arguments that have been heard so far in public aren’t so convincing.
Do you have any information?
No, I don’t have any information. I want to tell you that we have no information whatsoever – officially I mean – as to why the Ledra checkpoint hasn’t opened. There’s only press reports.
