I KYPROS, 10th March 2016, New York

– Mr Kyprianou, welcome. The first question concerns the objective of your visit to the US. You began your visit in Washington and now you’re in New York. What contacts have you had so far and what will follow?

AK – The aim of our visit obviously concerns the Cyprus problem. We wanted to see certain circles at the United Nations in an effort on the one hand to inform them of the views of the Greek Cypriot side on developments surrounding the Cyprus problem, as well as on some concerns we have. On the other hand, we want to be informed about their positions.

On the opportunity of these meetings with the UN we thought it would also be good to meet with the US government. In this sense, we therefore arranged meetings with the UN Deputy Secretary-General N. Feltman, as well as with the representatives of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. We also met with Archbishop Demetrios of America. With regard to the representatives of the American Government and the Senate, we met Mr. Menendez, who was until recently the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Senate, National Security Council Director for Turkey, Cyprus, and Greece to the White House Mr. Mark Schapiro. We also met with Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs for Southern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean Affairs of the US State Department Amanda Sloat.

In all these meetings we conveyed the positions of the Greek Cypriot side as they are set out in the National Council. We made it clear that they should not under any circumstances believe that the Greek Cypriot side is ready to accept any solution. We underlined that we insist on a solution that will be based on principles. We certainly cannot accept restrictions of basic freedoms. We cannot accept guarantees or rights of intervention from any other country, as we also cannot accept permanent derogations from the acquis communautaire and from other positions of principle which we have repeatedly put forth as the Greek Cypriot side.

– Getting away from your visit to the US, let´s move on to an issue that has arisen just today, concerning the leak of confidential National Council documents by EDEK party leader Mr. Sizopoulos. What is the truth behind all this? Is it what the President told the House of Representatives or all that was presented by Mr. Sizopoulos?

AK: Let’s separate the issues into two. The first concerns the leak itself. It is regrettable and unfortunate in the sense that it nullifies the functioning of the National Council and prevents any meaningful discussion now in the National Council itself. I regret that petty-party considerations and pre-election expediencies are pushing certain circles and forces to act in this way.

Regarding the specific issues raised by Mr. Sizopoulos, let me say that they are not the most substantive of those being discussed. There are other much more important issues on which no agreement has been reached, as well as no agreement on some of those issues mentioned by Mr. Sizopoulos. The President of the Republic in his address to the House of Representatives presented the issues in their true dimension. I repeat that there are very important issues still pending, which are of great concern to us. This is precisely where we must focus all of our attention on, but not to undermine either the President of the Republic or the representative of the Turkish Cypriot community, but to see how we shape arguments and policies that will enable us to break the deadlock.

AKEL knows very well that we encountered difficulties in the negotiation procedure. But we ask, is there any other way to follow? Fully aware of the difficulties, we must continue our efforts, as united as possible and in a well-documented way to convince of the correctness of our position.

-What is your assessment of the talks, especially at a time when Mr. Akinci seems to be making a shift and Turkey has not shown some sign of contributing to a solution?

AK: As I said before, although some progress has been achieved in the negotiations, progress which to a large degree is due to the adoption of the Christofias-Talat convergences, there are still a great deal of difficulties; difficulties stemming from the fact that Turkey so far is content with just making verbal statements, which one could say that they sometimes move in the correct direction, and other times are extremely negative. In practice, we have not seen any change in the intransigent positions Turkey is expressing. When I say in practice, I mean at the negotiating table.

Now, with regards Mr. Akinci, from the very beginning we had noted that he was a man who wants and desires a solution. He is the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community though. We should not expect that he will support positions as we ourselves would like. What is required from our side, I repeat, is to correctly analyse the given conditions prevailing with respect the stand of Turkey and Mr. Akinci, and to see how we manage to substantiate our positions and try to convince them of our positions.

At the same time, I think it is extremely important that a campaign to brief in an objective way the international community is undertaken on these issues, so that it will know what the real situation is regarding the negotiations. Besides, this is precisely the reason also that we as AKEL are here today in the United States to brief our contacts based on the given facts, that is to say what the situation surrounding the discussions on the Cyprus problem.

– Stemming from what you just mentioned, have you spoken with the President about this campaign and have you set out some framework upon which this campaign will be based on?

AK: We had come to an understanding with the President that during our visit we will act within the same framework as we had agreed before our visit to Turkey. We are that is to say in consultation with the President of the Republic.

– Mr. Kyprianou, let’s move on to the issue of the upcoming parliamentary elections. We are two months away from the elections to be held in May in our country. What are your predictions for the percentage, but also number of seats AKEL will get?

AK: As you have said, we are still far away from the general elections. I would say that the climate has not warmed up yet, it has not been fiery and a large section of the people has still not realized that we are heading towards Parliamentary Elections. It is therefore too early to make any predictions. What I can say with absolute certainty is that AKEL will certainly register a higher percentage than it did in the European elections and that AKEL will continue to be a leading political force.

– Is it true that there’s upheaval within the ranks of AKEL and that there is conflict between parliamentary candidates?

AK: No, there is no upheaval, nor any particular problems in AKEL. Our goal is to remain committed to the essence of the real problems confronting the Cypriot people. We may have some minor problems with candidates, far less than the other parties, however. I told the candidates that life does not end on 22nd May. It is important to be able to look each other in the eye the day after the election too.

– There are rumours that both the newspaper “Haravgi” and “Astra” radio station may shut down after the election or that the newspaper will become a weekly? Is there any truth in these rumours?

AK: I have seen the reports and I find them amusing. For some time painful decisions have been taken to enable “Astra” and “Haravgi” to operate unhindered. We are on a good path. I would like to send a clear message to these well-wishers that both “Haravgi” and “Astra” will continue for many decades to come, if they want to follow them.

– Finally Mr. Kyprianou, would like to send a message to our Cypriot compatriots?

AK: AKEL has a history of 90 years of life and struggles. It may have made mistakes in all these years, but no one can doubt its patriotism, responsibility and seriousness in serving the interests of Cyprus.

If one considers that Bills that will adversely affect our lives for the coming decades have been passed in parliament by just one vote difference, then one can comprehend the importance of supporting and strengthening AKEL. I urge our compatriots to vote for AKEL-Left-New Forces so as to give Cyprus hope and a perspective, to give more strength and power to their shield of protection.