I express our sadness and dissatisfaction with today’s developments in the negotiations, which harm the procedure and disappoint thousands of people from both sides of the barbed wire who live in the hope of a solution to the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our homeland.
AKEL reiterates that the decision that was taken by political parties last Friday in the House of Representatives for the commemoration of the anniversary of the Enosis Referendum is wrong. We all know that AKEL started back then the campaign to collect signatures. But since then almost seven decades have elapsed. Cyprus from a colony was declared an independent state. The treacherous coup d’état and Turkish invasion followed, as well as our agreement with the international and Turkish Cypriot community for a bizonal, bicommunal federation. For us today to go back and honor the policy of Enosis, is at the very least political schizophrenia. We had warned on the same day of the decision’s approval that serious problems would be provoked to the negotiations.
Regretfully AKEL has been vindicated. The Turkish Cypriot side’s reaction was excessive and unacceptable. The only circles and forces delighted with it are precisely those circles and forces who do not want a solution and have been trying for some time to find a way to end the talks. In the wake of the situation created, the President of the Republic from the very outset should have admitted that the decision adopted by the majority of the House of Representatives was wrong, not simply untimely, and find ways to allay the concerns of the Turkish Cypriots. Unfortunately he failed to do so. He took the same stand today as well. After today’s meeting, instead of focusing on how to defuse the crisis, Mr. Anastasiades unfortunately opted, albeit indirectly, to play the blame game. In a coordinated manner governing DISY party leading members have already paraded on television to persuade us that Akinci’s walkout from the talks was a predetermined decision, something which Mr. Anastasiades reiterated in his own statement as well.
We could have said a lot. But we won’t do so, deliberately, because what is paramount now is that we should find the way to overcome the difficulties that have emerged before us and resume the substantive dialogue in order to reach a solution based on principles. Turkish intentions will be revealed at the negotiating table and nowhere else. If Turkey remains intransigent at the table, then it will be exposed. However, if the talks are suspended now, the Cyprus problem will remain unresolved and it is very likely that responsibilities will be attributed to us too. We must find a way to continue the dialogue. We need to march on the path of the effort to the very end and not sacrifice it for the sake of any petty-party or petty-political considerations.
Our concern isn’t the next election. Everyone’s concern must focus on the future generations.