The inglorious end of the meetings in Mont Peleran didn’t fulfill our expectations for recording progress that would pave the way for the next phase of the negotiations on the Cyprus problem. The lack of an agreement on the territorial issue was a development that undoubtedly cannot satisfy us. Nevertheless, we haven’t lost our hope, nor our desire for the reunification of our country and people. This is what we are constantly declaring. This passion was also expressed by thousands of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who gathered in the Çetinkaya Stadium last Monday. The 120 organizations that participated in the mass meeting supported in their own way the efforts to reach an agreed solution for a peaceful and independent Cyprus, the common homeland of all its people, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Armenians, Maronites and Latins. It is this desire that led AKEL to immediately undertake initiatives aiming to assist towards the resumption of negotiations.
The message conveyed by the thousands of people last Monday was that peace and the reunification of our country cannot be prevented. Singing and struggling together, we demonstrated that the time for a solution is now. We need all the people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to continue to be mobilized and actively support the efforts being made in the negotiations.
Right now the creation of the proper conditions for the resumption of the talks, always safeguarding the progress achieved so far, should be the priority for all of us. Now Turkey must show if it really means its declarations in favour of a solution of the Cyprus problem. This however does not mean that we do not remain committed to principles or that we will accept any solution. The solution will be judged by the result of the agreement we will have before us. We make compromises with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, but never with the occupation.
We are struggling, committed to a bizonal bicommunal federal solution with a single and indivisible sovereignty, a single citizenship, a single international personality and with political equality between the two communities as set out in the relevant UN resolutions.
We are struggling for a solution that will demilitarize Cyprus, abolish the anachronistic system of guarantees, and that will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all.
We have as AKEL declared many times, that for us the solution and the reunification of our people cannot be subject to petty-party considerations. We will continue to support the negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem, as indeed we have done so far, because we know that the passage of time is an ally of the occupation and not of reunification. The partitionist status quo is an ever-changing situation, which changes the facts on the ground, while also threatening the very existence of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots.
The conditions that have been created enable more than ever the achievement of an agreement. The functional and unifying Christofias-Talat convergences, and the progress made even in Mont Peleran are important, despite the setback that occurred. This is no time to engage in a blame game. Now is the time to intensify our struggle for the resumption and conclusion of the talks. We remain committed to a solution of the Cyprus problem, to the peaceful coexistence with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots in a reunited island.
Article by Neoklis Sylikiotis, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL and GUE/NGL Vice-President
“Haravgi” newspaper, Sunday 28th November 2016
