AKEL C.C. Press Office, 1st January 2018, Nicosia

On the occasion of the New Year 2018, AKEL addresses to the entire Cypriot people – Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins – its wishes for peace, happiness and prosperity.

Our thoughts these days are with the thousands of the poor and unemployed, the vulnerable groups of the population; with those who have been forced to emigrate in search of a better life; those who are experiencing job uncertainty and suffering from the negative consequences of the dramatic reduction in their earnings; those who are worried about their future and in general with all those who are going through hard times.

Our thoughts are with the refugees and war-stricken victims of the Turkish invasion and occupation, the enclaved people in the occupied areas and the relatives of the missing persons, with all those affected by the ongoing occupation and division of our country.

We also wish to address all immigrants who live and work in Cyprus, far from their homes and families.

Yet another New Year finds our country and people without a solution of the Cyprus problem. 2018 does not start with the best of omens for our national problem. The failure at the Crans Montana Conference and the impasse it has generated has distanced the prospect of a solution of the Cyprus problem. At the same time, Turkey has been exonerated and unobstructed is continuing to behave provocatively and consolidate the occupation fait accompli.

It is our belief that without a solution to the Cyprus problem the future of our country and people is at risk. This is why the immediate resumption of the negotiations is crucial for our country’s future. To achieve this goal, consistency must be demonstrated with regards the long-standing declared goals and principles of the solution, as well as determination. AKEL will continue to work, with responsibility and patriotism, to achieve a solution that will liberate and reunify our homeland and people.

At the same time, AKEL will continue to struggle to restore the people’s standard of living. It will continue to defend the rights and well-intentioned interests of the working people and citizens in general. It will continue to promote policies to support the welfare state, which has been dismantled by the neoliberal policies of the outgoing government and ruling forces, for a fairer redistribution of wealth. It will continue to work for building an economy that will have stable and strong foundations; for an economy that will not depend on circumstantial and incoidental situations, as is the case today.

2018 promises to be a year of great challenges, but at the same time also a year of hope and prospect for our country and people, the ope for real change to be achieved in the upcoming Presidential elections.

The candidacy of Stavros Mala represents what is truly new and genuinely progressive. Stavros Malas can express the anxieties and aspirations of the large majority of the people demanding genuine change and the progressive modernization of Cyprus. Stavros Malas is the only candidate who has the will and the credibility to bring change. The candidacy of Stavros Mala is the Hope and Perspective for Cyprus and our people.

AKEL, as a genuine patriotic and progressive party, will devote all its energies to achieving a real change in the administration of the country so that the hope of solving the Cyprus problem is rejuvenate, as well as the prospect of a better future for all of us, our children and grandchildren.

All the best to everyone for the New Year!

 

Leave a Reply