General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL A. Kyprianou replies to journalists’ questions
The government’s narrative is collapsing
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 11 July 2019, Nicosia
Replying to a journalist’s question on the measures that the EU is expected to take against Turkey for its actions in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the General Secretary of Andros Kyprianou stated the following:
We must all reflect on developments to date on the question of the measures that the European Union is expected to take against Turkey for its provocative actions in our Exclusive Economic Zone – especially, of course, the government and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Both of them for many weeks and months, were telling us on the one hand that they had managed to shield the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus and that no one could cause problems. That’s what the Minister of Foreign Affairs was saying. He was stressing that we have established adequate mechanisms to deal with any problems. We conclude that these assertions are collapsing like a house of cards. Turkey is not only engaging in provocative actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone but, I believe, has proceeded to fait accompli which will provoke serious difficulties, on the one hand, to the resumption of the dialogue for the solution of the Cyprus problem and, on the other hand, to our country’s perspective as a whole.
The second thing, as I said previously, the President and Foreign Minister were saying for several weeks was that Cyprus had secured the full support of its partners in the European Union for the adoption of strict measures against Turkey. Back then, we had expressed our doubts as to whether the European Union would proceed to impose such sanctions forcing Turkey to reflect on how it continues to act in our Exclusive Economic Zone. Today we conclude that, unfortunately, the measures that are being announced are insufficient and have nothing to do whatsoever with what was being proclaimed by the President of the Republic and the Minister of Foreign Affairs during this period.
I will therefore repeat AKEL’s position. That is to say, without any illusions and delusions, the government must proceed to take those initiatives that will send out a clear message to the United Nations, the European Union and elsewhere: That we are ready for an immediate resumption of the negotiations provided that Turkey’s provocative actions will end. We are ready to respect the rights of Turkish Cypriots arising from the existence of natural wealth either on the ground or in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus and we are ready to engage in intensive negotiations as requested by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to reach an agreement as soon as possible. Only the solution of the Cyprus problem will address all the problems we are confronted with today. And only the prospect of the solution will lead to the termination of Turkey’s provocative actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone. This is AKEL’s position.
I also want to say something, which stems from a conversation we had. Some forces and circles say that AKEL is adopting Turkish positions. This is anything but the case. AKEL wants to pin Turkey down. And I am sure that if at long last Mr. Anastasiades adopts what AKEL is saying, Turkey will find itself in an extremely difficult situation. Turkey is being facilitated to proceed in the implementation of fait accompli, in the carrying out of its threats, by the stand taken by the President of the Republic and the rest of the political parties. Our clear position, then, is that if we really want to pin Turkey down we should do what AKEL proposes. That’s the only way we’ll make it hard for Turkey and force it to discuss the substance of the issues where justice is on our side.
Replying to a journalist’s comment that the crux of the matter is that Turkey doesn’t accept to sit at the negotiating table, the General Secretary of AKEL noted:
I’m not sure if this is going to be the position Turkey will take if we go to talks with a clear approach. Turkey will be placed in the position of the accused if it says it won’t enter into negotiations – provided that we convince the UN Secretary General that we are genuinely ready to start negotiations and go all the way to the end this time.