The development in the negotiations in Switzerland was not expected. We expected – and were anticipating – the achievement of further progress that would pave the way for the next phase of the negotiations. The fact that the two sides failed to agree on the territorial issue represents a negative development.
AKEL isn’t in a hurry to draw conclusions or to make evaluations as to what went wrong and an agreement on the territorial issue was not reached. We shall wait to be briefed by the President of the Republic and having the overall picture in mind AKEL will make its own assessments and evaluations.
It is our belief that at the point where the efforts to reach a solution of the Cyprus problem are, what we need to do is to create the preconditions for the resumption of the negotiations without abandoning our principles and by safeguarding the progress achieved so far in the whole procedure.
The resumption of the negotiations cannot be served by the mutual apportion of responsibilities. This tactic damages and complicates the prospects for fulfilling the goal.
As we have already announced, AKEL will take concrete initiatives in various directions aiming to assist the resumption of the negotiations.
Statement by Stefanos Stephanou, AKEL C.C. Spokesperson
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 23rd November 2016, Nicosia
