“Abandoning the solution of federation leads to partition – the beginning of new troubles for our island”
Quo vadis Cyprus? When the nightmare of partition is knocking on our door
Replies of the General Secretary of AKEL Andros Kyprianou to questions put by “Haravgi” newspaper, Sunday 7 October 2018
1. If your Party disagrees with the solution of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation (BBF), why doesn’t it bluntly say to the people that this automatically leads to partition and assume your responsibility for the Turkification of Cyprus?
AK: This question doesn’t concern our Party. AKEL supports with consistency the solution of federation as this is outlined in the United Nations texts and High-Level Agreements concluded between the leaders of the two communities. Our own reply to the fake argument that federation will “Turkify” Cyprus is clear. We are threatened by “Turkification” not because we are insisting on a federal solution and on the proposals we have submitted, but only if we attempt to abandon this solution. Any abandonment of the solution of federation will lead us to partition, which will be the beginning of new troubles for our island.
For decades, Turkey has with consistency been promoting policies that are deepening the Turkish Cypriot community’s dependence on Ankara and weakening it. It promoted the economic integration of the occupied territories through financing in the construction and tourism sectors and beyond those too. It is constantly seeking to interference in the occupied areas. It is attempting to cultivate religion as a means of exercising greater control over society. A section of the Turkish Cypriot community is resisting all of these developments. However, a numerically small community will not always be able to stand up to powerful Turkey. If the Right and ultra-Right in the Greek Cypriot community do not understand this promptly and insist on pursuing unrealistic approaches, this time they will cause irreparable damage to Cyprus.
Turkey’s demands from time to time for a two-state solution unfortunately vindicates our position that without a federal solution Cyprus will be Turkified. Instead of President Anastasiades taking initiatives that will isolate Turkey’s partitionist positions and strengthen the Greek Cypriot side’s position, it leaves us exposed because of his inaction, contradictions and regressions. Instead of Mr. Anastasiades intensifying his contacts with the international community and with the Turkish Cypriot community that says that it wants to work for the solution of the Cyprus problem, he is dealing with anything else and is consumed with communication games.
Finally, it would be interesting if those who disagree with the solution of Bizonal, Bicommunal Federation were to tell us not that they disagree with, but what they actually propose, what realistic and viable proposals they put forward.
2. How should the Greek Cypriot side react if the UN Secretary-General does not take any initiative for a resumption of the talks after UN Secretary-General Special envoy on Cyprus Mrs. Lute’s Report is submitted and if he refers the decisions to the UN Security Council together with the question of the renewal of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus’ mandate?
AK: This is a hypothetical question that I think cannot be answered by anyone. What our side must do is to take initiatives and convince that it is imperative to start negotiations immediately.