The government needs to formulate its foreign policy based on the objective reality and not on any illusions about the US’ role
Statement by AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou
On the statements by the US Ambassador to Cyprus
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 3rd July 2020, Nicosia
The statements of the US Ambassador to Cyprus confirm what the Anastasiades government itself avoids admitting.
The United States reiterates at every opportunity that Turkey is their NATO ally and that their primary goal is to keep Turkey in the West. This is the strategy pursued by the United States and the Trump administration. This is obviously what determines the actions and attitudes of the United States towards the Turkey’s aggressive actions against Cyprus and Greece. For that reason, the government is called upon to formulate its foreign policy based on the objective reality and not on any illusions about the role of the United States.
Furthermore, the US Ambassador reiterated that the lifting of the US arms embargo on Cyprus depends on Cyprus reducing and banning the number of Russian naval ships present in Cyprus ports. This refutes the statements made by the government and ruling DISY party to the contrary. It confirms that what the notorious Menendez-Rubio bill, which the Anastasiades-DISY government was celebrating, demands from Cyprus is that it breaks off its relations with Russia. How exactly are our homeland’s vital interests served when Cyprus loses pillars of support and when our country cuts off relations with states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council and with countries with which the Cypriot people have always had friendly relations?
It is in Cyprus’ interest to pursue a foreign policy based on the principles of peace and international law, to promote its relations with all the states of the world, to win and not to lose allies in its struggle, to be a bridge of peace and not a bridgehead serving the geopolitical games of others.
