The President doesn’t feel the need to consult anyone

Statement by the AKEL C.C. Spokesperson Stefanos Stefanou

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 20 July 2018, Nicosia

Next Monday, the UN Secretary-General’s Special envoy on Cyprus Jane Lute will have meetings with the leaders of the two communities. The meetings, as the government itself stresses, will be crucial for the prospect of resuming the negotiations.

And although developments are critical, the President of the Republic did not consider it useful to consult with the political forces. The President did not bother to hear any opinion. No one knows what he will convey to Mrs. Lute and what he intends to do in the critical period ahead.

Evidently the President considers that his shoulders are sufficiently broad enough to bear the weight of any decisions. It’s his right to do so! However, he himself will bear the sole responsibility for whatever emerges.

In view of the forthcoming meeting with Ms. Lute, AKEL reiterates that the President of the Republic must in a very clear way support the resumption of negotiations without any asterisks and preconditions. The President must in a very clear way be in unison with the line that the UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres has set for the continuation of the negotiations from the point where they have been suspended and on the basis of his Framework of Conclusions.

If the Turkish side responds positively then we will have negotiations continued. If not, the then the Turkish side will bear the responsibility for any failure and it will remain exposed towards the international community.