Those who assert gain

 

Statement of Aristos Damianou, member of AKEL C.C. and MP

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 21st February 2015, Nicosia

 

Without ignoring that the overall evaluation and assessment of the results of yesterday’s Eurogroup will be made by the Greek political leadership, but above all by the Greek people, it is clear that the government of Greece asserted and managed to take a step forward when compared with all that had been accepted by its predecessors or with all that Greece’s partners wanted to impose.

Inevitably the comparison must be made with those difficult days of March 2013. Cyprus’ government “with the gun on its head” accepted the haircut/levy on bank deposits, the selling-off of the Cypriot branches in Greece and in the process, unnecessary and nationally damaging privatizations, foreclosures of primary residences and a host of other anti-people’s measures. The Cyprus government did not assert for the benefit of the Cypriot people, but succumbed and yielded to pressure.

We will insist: while always respecting the democratic procedure and dialogue, through struggle and assertion it is possible for any government, if it really wants, to assert through negotiation and gain for the benefit of its people. Yesterday’s events are the best proof. In March 2013 Cyprus also had opportunities. Unfortunately, the government did not assert, it simply gave in and yielded. By selling-off the branches of the Cypriot banks in Greece, the government surrendered without a fight Cyprus’ strongest bargaining card and saw to it that the crisis from systemic remain only Cypriot. Even at this late stage, the government of Anastasiades and the DISY Rally party must get the messages being conveyed.