Transcript of statements by the General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL Andros Kyprianou at the annual customary New Year event

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 4th January 2017, Nicosia

We bid farewell to a year which I must admit was difficult, a year which has created some perspectives, but has left behind a great deal of problems. Our efforts in 2017 will be to maximize the potential and minimize the problems to the greatest possible degree.

The Cyprus problem

We have before us a huge issue which AKEL considers as a top priority from the first moment it was created in its present form. And I am referring to the Cyprus problem. From the very beginning in 1974 we set as our principal priority the solution of the Cyprus problem, but not any solution.

In 2016 progress was recorded which was due to the fact that President Anastasiades at long last decided to utilize the convergences which had been agreed between Demetris Christofias and Mehmet Ali Talat. This progress was unfortunately not enough to lead to an agreement. With the advent of the New Year in 2017, we have entered in a very critical and decisive procedure.

We do not have many options before us.

One option is to work resolutely with perseverance and consistency to principles to be able to reach an agreement, provided that there is a positive response from Turkey.

The other option, which certain circles and forces advocate, both directly and indirectly, is to lead these efforts to an end because there are serious concerns.

I want to clarify that we also have a great many concerns. I will even go further to say that we have disagreements about specific issues and handlings of the President of the Republic. This does not however distract us from our strategic goal which is to undertake efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.

We have significant chapters pending and the President of the Republic must act without mistakes, in a collective way and try to forge greater unity on the domestic front. To accomplish this, the political parties must also respond of course. Each political party, based on the long-standing positions of the National Council, must try to contribute in its own way so that, at least from our part every effort is made to exploit all existing possibilities, and if possible to reach an agreement.

As far as AKEL is concerned, we clarify that will act in a constructive manner by consensus with the submission of concrete proposals and views so that any problems regarding the substantive and procedural issues are overcome and an agreement is concluded. I repeat that to achieve this goal, it is essential that Turkey and the Turkish side in general, but more specifically Turkey, abandon its unacceptable positions which it expresses on issues such as security.

We repeat that even though we have our own comments and opinions on the procedure that was decided by the President of the Republic, in entering into this procedure we must be determined. Every day we should reaffirm our will to reach an agreement: an agreement as specified in repeated UN resolutions and which has been outlined in the High-Level Agreements. This agreement must be within the framework of International Law and the principles on which the EU is founded of which Cyprus is a member state.

We are therefore struggling with all our strength in this direction, believing that this is also the best way to address a potential blame game. If you reaffirm your will every day that you want a solution and if this attempt does not succeed, then the responsibility will lie exclusively with the Turkish side. And this is important so as to prevent whatever objectives Mr. Erdogan may have in his mind in the event of the achievement of an agreement having failed.

Allow me to reiterate, AKEL will do all it can in this effort and is ready to contribute constructively. We call on all, primarily the President of the Republic, to avoid errors and to handle the issues collectively.

The economy

It is true that certain economic indicators show a gradual improvement. This improvement does not affect the whole of Cypriot society. It concerns the privileged and select few.

We are the country with the biggest increase in the gap in incomes over recent years in the EU. The tiny minority have become richer and everyone else has gradually evidently become poorer and some have become destitute.

28% of the Cypriot people are living on the poverty line. At the same time, unemployment continues to be at very high levels, despite the increase in tourism, despite the fact that many Cypriots have migrated abroad, while other important sectors are facing problems.

The government is attempting to impose the deregulation of labour relations. I want to make it clear that it will find us confronting it in this effort. The selling off of public wealth and property is being attempted too. We will also oppose these government attempts. So-called “reforms” are being promoted in various fields which are not intended to serve the majority of society, but rather the political expediencies and considerations of forces in power.

The promise that AKEL gives to the people of Cyprus with the advent of the New Year is that we will again be at the forefront of the struggles for a redistribution of national wealth and so that the policies that are decided will benefit the many and not the privileged few.

Depreciation

I want to conclude with an issue that I consider very important and a very big challenge for us as AKEL, that is the issue regarding the general depreciation of political life and political forces.

We have an obligation as AKEL to lead the way regaining the people’s trust in politics and political figures. I consider the phenomena of populism, interwoven interests and corruption have nothing to do with the Left movement in Cyprus and we must lead the way in combating them.

I want to point out something else too. Excessive personal ambitions and a continuous chase for wealth must be alien to the spectrum of the Left. We must therefore begin first from ourselves, to fight all these unacceptable phenomena so that we can subsequently better society as well. This is a great challenge for AKEL and each and every one of us must do his/her own bit towards this end.

I reiterate, serving personal ambitions which are to the detriment of society and the general well-being and the rampant lust for profits have nothing whatsoever to do with the spectrum of the Left. The challenge is before us. Can we improve ourselves and improve society? This is the big issue for our party in the years to come.

I therefore would like to conclude by reiterating AKEL’s wishes first and foremost to our long-suffering island. I hope 2017 will be the year of liberation and reunification within the framework that has been agreed. To this end, AKEL will seek to play its own decisive role. This should be a year where the many should have the support of the state.

AKEL will be at the forefront of struggles so that the policies being pursued change to the benefit of the majority of the people and not for the privileged and select minority. We will seek to our own contribution so that Cypriot society moves forward.v