The government must understand that the end of illusions on the issue of sanctions has arrived

 

Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Giorgos Koukoumas

14 December 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

The latest developments surrounding the issue of sanctions (on Turkey) must signal the end of the illusions that the government of ruling DISY party has been cultivating over the last few years.

The demand for the imposition of sanctions against the occupying power Turkey for its illegal actions in Varosha and in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus is undeniably just. Nevertheless – as AKEL has always been warning – the European Union does not operate on the basis of what is right and constitutes justice, nor on principles, but rather on the basis of geopolitical and economic interests.

The government should have known this and should have realised this all through the last few years during which its policy and rhetoric has been refuted time and time again. It should have realized this dozens of times when it raised the bar of expectations high for the imposition of sanctions and ultimately failed to meet its goals. Furthermore, it should have combined the just demand for sanctions with the demonstration of consistency and a readiness on its part for a resumption of the negotiations on the Cyprus problem. Even now belatedly, the government must understand that the end of the illusions has come. Even belatedly, it must focus on what has the best chance of halting Turkey’s aggression.

It all comes down to one key point: The need for a resumption of the talks from where they had remained in 2017 at Crans Montana. For a solution to the Cyprus problem on the agreed basis and framework. For the liberation and reunification of our homeland and people.