AKEL calls for the resumption of the Cyprus negotiations

AKEL calls upon President Anastasiades to give a response to the UNSG report on Cyprus.

ICP, 18 July 2018

The Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL) had backed the negotiation procedure between the leaders of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, Nicos Anastasiades and Mustafa Akıncı, which recorded significant progress mainly on territorial issues at the Mont Peleran conference but which eventually collapsed at Crans Montana. Later, a special envoy was sent to Cyprus by the United Nations Secretary-General Antonia Guterres and prepared a detailed report on the current situation of the Cyprus problem.

The Central Commitee of the AKEL discussed the Cyprus problem at its plenary session on June 11. Discouraged by the situation that the negotiation procedure has entered into a dangerous deadlock, the CC of the AKEL points out the historical experience that the absence of an ongoing negotiation procedure as a rule leads to new serious and perhaps irreversible faits accomplis and to the consolidation of the current partitionist status quo. And a recent example is considered to be Turkey's provocative action of preventing the Italian EMI Company from proceeding to planned drillings. Accusing Anastasiades for not making use of the opportunities, the CC of the AKEL calls upon the President to give a response to the UNSG's report claiming that "a historic opportunity was lost" at Crans Montana. The Party underlines the importance of the rapprochement between the two communities for the solution of the Cyprus problem and declares its determination for intensifying contacts with all political and social forces within the Turkish Cypriot community who are seeking a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The evaluation of the CC of the AKEL ends as follows:

"AKEL’s position, the dedication towards the solution of our political problem far from serving political and party expediencies and considerations, is driven by genuine patriotism and the concern for the future of our country and people. Within this framework, AKEL will work tirelessly for the resumption of the negotiations as the UN Secretary-General sets out and for their positive outcome. We shall continue to demand the speedy withdrawal of all the occupying troops, the demilitarization of Cyprus and the immediate end of guarantees and intervention rights. At the same time we shall continue to warn about the devastating consequences of any partitionist solution."

On July 6, the General Secretary of the CC of the AKEL Andros Kyprianou delivered a speech at the 31st Pancyprian Festival of Youth and Students of the EDON (United Democratic Youth Organization). Kyprianou criticized the austerity policies imposed by the Anastasiades-DISY government and asserted that the President has a responsibility to the country and young generation for not going down in history as "the President of partition". Since the elections in Turkey are over, Kyprianou expressed that right now everyone must focus on returning to the negotiating table on the basis of the framework set by the UN Secretary-General and the long-standing positions for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

See the link for the evaluation of the CC of the AKEL.

See the link for the news concerning the 31st EDON Festival.