The government ruling forces want to play the xenophobia card in the run-up to the parliamentary elections
Government must reply whether, when and how it briefed the UN and the EU about the barbed wires decision
Statement by AKEL Spokesperson, Stefanos Stefanou
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11th March 2021, Nicosia
Accusations have been made in the press today that in the end the government had not briefed the EU of its decision to install barbed wires along the confrontation line, as it had claimed. AKEL calls on the government to give clear answers on whether, when and how it has informed the United Nations and the European Union of its decision.
Whatever the case may be, the barbed wires it has installed are of no practical use for the purpose proclaimed by the government. They only succeed in cutting off the Greek Cypriot farmers of the area in question from their crops. The government ruling forces are implying that the Republic of Cyprus is abandoning the buffer zone to the occupying army. They are conveying the unthinkable symbolism that the Cypriot government is proceeding with actions that refer to the delimitation of borders and the deepening of the division of the island. They are giving arguments to the occupying power and to the circles promoting the partition of Cyprus, in view of the critical upcoming informal five-party meeting in April.
It is obvious that the government ruling forces want to play the card of xenophobia in the run-up to the parliamentary elections. But our country cannot withstand any more games being played at its expense and to the detriment of future generations. The government must put the benefit of Cyprus over and above any petty-political and electoral considerations and expediencies.
