Urgent need for radical change in government’s tactics on Cyprus Problem and foreign policy

 

Statement of Georgos Loucaides AKEL C.C. Spokesperson

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2nd February 2015, Nicosia

 

The content of Turkey’s European Union Affairs Minister Volkan Bozkir’s letter to the European Parliament’s Rapporteur on Turkey is yet another unacceptable and deplorable action that flagrantly violates International and European law, but also the European Union towards the Republic of Cyprus and in relation to the Cyprus problem.

What is provocatively contained in Bozkir’s letter is in fact not something new. It is part of the Turkish policy which the Erdogan – AKP administration are steadfastly following. The challenge for the Republic of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot side was, and remains, the tackling of the Turkish machinations. To effectively combat these machinations the Greek Cypriot side’s damaged credibility needs to be restored, so that either Ankara will change policy, or it will count the cost of a possible continuation of its provocative stand.

The restoration of our credibility and support in the international and European context, we reiterate involves the need for a radical change in the government’s tactics both on the Cyprus problem and in the one-dimensional foreign policy being pursued.

Otherwise, the isolation we are confronted with as a result of the government’s handling so far will continue to allow and facilitate the Turkish designs against Cyprus.