Whoever sets preconditions for the Cyprus problem will be accused now
“Avgi” newspaper, 19th October 2020
AKEL MP Stefanos Stefanou, speaking to Greek radio station “Kokkino”, described the election of Ersin Tatar as the leader of the Turkish Cypriots as a negative development, due to his positions on the Cyprus problem, but also against the background of Turkey’s illegal and provocative.
In the elections in the occupied territories, two schools of thought clashed with regards the Turkish Cypriot community’s perspective, said Mr. Stefanou, stressing that on the one hand were Akinci’s correct positions on the Cyprus problem, which also express the large section of Turkish Cypriots who do not want “Ankara’s suffocating embrace”.
Regarding the apparent resumption of dialogue on the Cyprus problem, Mr. Stefanou warned that “whichever side sets terms and preconditions, will be accused, while the Secretary General of the UN will record it because he fully understands that this may be our last chance (to resolve the Cyprus problem)”.
The AKEL MP was particularly sharp in his comments about the stance taken by Nicosia at the EU Summit, stating that “we weren’t the ones who in a relaxed manner were expecting a stance based on principles and international law on the part of the EU which operates on the basis of economic and geopolitical interests of the mighty”.
Mr. Stefanou raised the issue of credibility as to the stand of President Anastasiades, saying that you cannot be calling for pressure to be exerted and for sanctions to be imposed on Turkey when you “open convergences that have already been agreed” – as the Cypriot President did after the failure at Crans Montana – and when the Secretary General of the UN tells you that these convergences must be preserved so that we can progress.
