We came to fuel the hope for a solution, which we must not let go, said on Sunday the Secretary General of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, in his speech at the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Famagusta in Deryneia, as part of the process for solution and reunification. stating that the Cyprus issue is in its worst phase.
See footage from the event at the Famagusta Cultural Center in Deryneia:
Mr. Stefanou said that in order to get out of the impasse and reach a solution, it is not enough to denounce Turkey and its illegal occupation. "We must point out, he said, how the Greek Cypriot side should handle the situation and what specific initiatives it should take in order to push things - as long as it goes through its own hand - to break the deadlock," he said.
It is our position, he said, which is confirmed by the latest developments, that we must continue to persistently seek the resumption of negotiations from the point that was interrupted in 2017, at the base of the Guterres Framework and preserving all convergences. This was the position of UN Secretary General for four years. This is the common ground that is being sought today. If we do not insist on this position, the impasse will simply intensify, given the large differences that exist between the two sides, said Mr. Stefanou.
It is known, he said, that AKEL disagrees - and criticizes - N. Anastasiadis for his manipulations and for the so-called "new ideas". These cancel out, he said, key convergences and clash with the position to resume negotiations from the point where they were suspended.
It is our view, said Stefanos Stefanou, that the President's policy leaves room for Turkey at no political cost to promote division and to feed back the stalemate. This situation gives an opportunity to third parties to promote "new ideas" and derailing the solution to the confederation, he said and stressed that our criticism of N. Anastasiadis is not from the opposition but said it is an attitude of patriotic responsibility towards our country and people. us, he added.
It is a cry of agony, he said, for the developments and the gloomy prospect that is being formed. Yes, we are anxious, he said, others may be comfortable with the gradual slippage into division. We will never compromise with it, because we know that division is a permanent source of danger. "We do not want - and we have no right - to leave such a legacy to future generations," he said.
The Cyprus issue is in its worst phase and this, believe me, he said, is not a figure of speech. "It is a cold and nightmarish reality. A reality shaped by the protracted impasse and the bargaining chip. "From the insistence of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership for a two-state solution, he said, from the illegal opening of part of the enclosed area of Famagusta and the creation of new ones in it," he said.
"Even the difficulty in issuing a tripartite announcement in New York and the appointment of a UN Special Envoy reflects the magnitude of the stalemate," said Stefanou.
It is very easy for me, but also completely honest, he said, to talk for hours about the unprecedented intransigence and the generally dichotomous behavior of Turkey and Ersin Tatar. AKEL does not miss the opportunity to do so, because the causes of the problems and the illegalities must be denounced, he said and stressed that the current course also has this character.
Mr. Stefanou noted that "we are united, stubborn and inspired by the prospects of seeing our homeland united again, without separation barbed wire".
It is tragic, he said, the path to the final division of our place to find us sitting comfortably on the sofas of our homes. And it is also tragic to let the memory fade as we surrender to oblivion.
Varosi is ringing the alarm bell for us, he said, but the messages are coming from everywhere. From every corner of our occupied land and from every point of free Cyprus: Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to unite our voices and demand solution, reunification, peace.
The path for the solution and the reunification that we are carrying out, said Mr. Stefanou, we want to show again the way to those who insist on envisioning a common homeland within the Bi-Zonal Bicommunal Federation with political equality, as described by the UN.
We want, he said, to show the way again to those who know that the only way to secure the future of our children and grandchildren is to live again in a free, common homeland, co-managed by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. He added that this is our vision and that is why we will continue to fight. We will never compromise with the division, he continued.
"In the struggle for solution and reunification, with half our hearts here and the other half behind the roadblocks, we walked together the path of hope for a just and sustainable solution. Together we will continue to walk the same path, he said and stressed that this homeland belongs to us, it is ours. "We have the right to envision it - and to want it - whole, free, peaceful and prosperous", said Mr. Stefanou.