We should be prepared for the possible abolition of visas for Turkish citizens
Statement of Toumazos Tsielepis, AKEL Political Bureau Member and Head of the Bureau on the Cyprus problem of the C.C.
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 22nd April 2016, Nicosia
Turkey’s threat that it will annul the agreement with the European Union on the migration issue, if the commitment to abolish visas for Turkish citizens is not observed must find us prepared for any eventuality.
When all the other political forces were demonizing the Christofias-Talat convergence on the four freedoms in relation to Turkish citizens, AKEL warned about the dangers of any possible abandonment of this convergence. Among other things, AKEL stressed that if a restriction on the flow of Turkish citizens is not set as of now, in the future will be no restriction whatsoever. Indeed we had explained that this can happen even without Turkey’s accession to the European Union. What is happening right now proves it.
The convergence on the four freedoms, besides the fact that it protects the population ratio both at the time of the solution and in the future too, acts as a shield for us even in the event of an abolition of visas for Turkish citizens precisely because it puts a restriction of 4: 1 in the flow of Greek and Turkish citizens to the island.
The next few months will be decisive for the fate of the current negotiation procedure. The best way to utilize the juncture that now exists and for Turkey to face up to its responsibilities is for President Anastasiades to reaffirm without any hesitation whatsoever his commitment to the convergences and to continue the effort to reach an agreement on the pending core issues.
