A K E LBulletin

Edited by the International Relations Department

C.C. AKEL No 39 | March 2015

22nd Pancyprian Congress of AKEL

4-7th June 2015

"Strength comes from struggleand hope comes from the Left"

Massive protest against austerity

Thousands of Cypriots demanded dignity

Turkey continues violations in the Exclusive Economic Zone

of the Republic of Cyprus

From the 4-7th June 2015 the 22nd regular PancyprianCongress of AKEL will convene, under the centralslogan of "Strength comes from struggle and hope

comes from the Left".

For AKEL, every Congress isa milestone. Our goal is thatthe 22nd Congress of theParty will be a milestone forCyprus as well. If one wereto review Congress papersand documents over the 90-year history of AKEL,he/she would see unfoldingbefore them the entire con-temporary history of ourhomeland; all the difficultpath of struggle the Cypriotpeople, the manual and intel-lectual workers began to takeCyprus forward.

Today, one could say that weare at the most dangerousjuncture of this difficult path

of struggle. The Cyprus problem remains unresolved withthe danger of permanent partition growing day by day. Ourpeople's gains and rights, all that it has so painstakinglybuilt and won over the years are under attack. The elderly

on low pensions, the un-employed, refugees, singleparents, large families, re-cipients of public assis-tance, young scientists,farmers and workers areall thinking that perhapsfor the first time in theirlives they cannot hopethat tomorrow things willget better.

This responsibility AKELwill dare to lift on to itsown shoulders with theconvening of the 22thCongress; the responsibil-ity to be the strongest wallupon which the nightmareof our country's partitionwill be shattered; the re-

Statement of Andros Kyprianou, G.S. of the C.C. of AKEL, on the convening of the 22nd Congress of AKEL

4-7th June 2015 - 22nd Congress of AKEL

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sponsibility to remain a leading force in the struggle for re-sistance to the dissolution of everything which the Troika,together with the Anastasiades Government and the gov-erning DYSI Rally party, are attempting.

The Central Committee of AKEL has already elaboratedthe text of the positions to be discussed at the Party BaseOrganisations. Given that that it is shaped in its final formbased on the views of the party membership, it will also bediscussed at the Congress itself. We call on all the partymembers of AKEL to participate actively in the discussionprocedures of the positions that will guide the actions ofAKEL for the next five years.

The goals of the 22th Congress are many and important.We aim to reaffirm the character of our Party, enhance itsideological-political identity and strengthen its organiza-tional force. We aim at its continuous renewal and to en-hance its capability of having a powerful presence andintervention in all matters of concern to the people ofCyprus. The 22th Congress of AKEL will not only look in-wards. It will also look outwards, towards the future. It willdeal with the principal issues our country is facing, first andforemost with the Cyprus problem, the prospect of the re-unification of our homeland and the revitalization of rap-prochement of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cy7priots.

It will discuss issues related to energy, developments on in-

ternational and European affairs ∙ developments in the re-gion and on the economy. It will debate existing problemsand needs that demand solutions, the elaboration of inno-vative and radical solutions. This is the reason why ourCongress will deal with issues of concern to the young gen-eration, women, workers, farmers, the middle strata, therefugees, large families, pensioners, the cooperative move-ment, the people of culture, local self-government, the pro-motion of human rights, the stamping out of corruption andinterwoven interests and much more.

In it's almost 90 years of struggle AKEL had and maintainsits own analysis of society and the economy. This howeverhas never prevented, nor will it now prevent it from dis-cussing, listening to positions and ideas from all people whocare about what is happening in society and will take ini-tiatives to formulate positions on contemporary issues.

In the 22th Congress will also discuss these issues. We willalso do the same on issues which while in other countriesare considered as self-evident, in Cyprus unfortunatelyuntil yesterday they were not, such as the combating of thevarious forms of racism or the issue of civil partnership.

Our desire is that the 22th Congress of AKEL conveys tothe people a strong message that we are the force that hasthe strength to struggle and to win together with the peopleits own future.

Developments in recent months have unfortu-nately resulted in new negative faits accomplis onthe Cyprus problem. The main issues that have

caused this new impasse stem primarily from Turkey's con-tinuing violations in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)of the Republic of Cyprus, thus challenging the sovereigntyof the Republic of Cyprus, as well as its right to exploit itsown natural resources. The new crisis of violations led theright-wing government of Cyprus to leave the table ofinter-communal negotiations, an act that led it to interna-tional political isolation.

Turkey's violations, which began last October after the is-suing of a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) for seismolog-ical surveys on the south side of the maritime borders of theRepublic of Cyprus, led to a new crisis in Cyprus. The re-action is related to the fact of the ongoing drilling procedurein Cyprus' EEZ to find hydrocarbons which began in 2011.Turkey claims that the Greek Cypriot side seeks to exploitCyprus' natural resources solely for its own benefit withoutalso taking into account the rights of the Turkish Cypriotcommunity to them. This of course is nothing more thananother pretext by Turkey, which is always invoking therights of the Turkish Cypriot community in order to serveits own geo-strategic objectives in the region.

On the other hand, the right-wing government of Cyprus

also bears responsibility for the current impasse as it did notseek to continue the negotiations from where they had leftoff, but instead re-opened the chapter on which conver-gences had been agreed between Christofias and Talat. Thisgave the opportunity to intransigent Eroglu to exploit thismove and promote partitionist demands. Initiatives mustbe taken so that either Ankara allows the continuation ofsubstantive talks without any obstructions in Cyprus' EEZor the international community should apportion responsi-bilities on the real intransigent side. This is precisely whatthe previous left government of Demetris Christofias didwithin the framework of the negotiations with the formerTurkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in the period2008-10.

In this context AKEL, while unequivocally denouncingTurkey's provocative violations in the EEZ of the Republicof Cyprus, also makes the right-wing President Anastasi-ades accountable which did not seek to continue the inter-communal negotiations on the basis of the significantChristofias-Talat convergences that had been agreed. At thesame time AKEL stresses that a way must be found to def-initely continue the inter-communal negotiations as soonas possible, given that this is the only way guarantying theperspective of breaching the impasse and a comprehensivesolution of the Cyprus problem.

Turkey continues violations in the Exclusive Economic Zone

of the Republic of Cyprus

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We urge Turkey to withdraw the NAVTEX and itsships so that the negotiations can resume immediately

AKEL and BKP (Turkish Cypriot “United Cyprus Party”) express their deepconcern about the current critical developments surrounding the Cyprus problemand call on the Cypriot people to a common struggle to overcome the deadlockand move forward in order to fulfil our shared vision for peace, freedom and re-unification through an overall solution to the Cyprus problem.

The two Parties remind that whenever Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriotswere being swayed by nationalism, and by doing so supporting the interests offoreign countries rather than those of Cyprus and its people, the result was dis-astrous for the people of both communities. In this context, we call on the twocommunities to intensify bicommunal dialogue and contacts, hence sending outa message of common struggle and coexistence. This is a patriotic stand, espe-cially in this context.

Furthermore, the two parties:

- Urge Turkey to withdraw the NAVTEX and its ships so that the negotiationscan resume immediately.

- Believe that this issue must be resolved within the framework of the conver-gences agreed between Christofias-Talat and Christofias-Eroglu on the maritimezones, natural resources and distribution of federal revenues. The convergencesin their entirety should constitute the basis for continuing the negotiations fromwhere they had left off.

- Reiterate that the continuing division of Cyprus is unacceptable for both com-munities. The current status quo threatens the prosperity, peace and the existenceof both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.

- Reaffirm their readiness to work for the rebuilding of the trust and commonunderstanding between the two communities by promoting bicommunal dia-logue and contacts at various levels.

The two Parties will continue the dialogue and cooperation in the interests of

the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

Joint Declaration of AKEL and BKP

on the current developmentssurrounding

the Cyprus Problem

8.12.2014

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The Report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the renewal of themandate of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) is unbalanced andprovokes justifiable feelings of disappointment and anxiety. The Report includesseveral negative elements, highlighted by the way the provocative Turkish viola-tions in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus are pre-sented, as well as the references to an isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.

While Turkey has now surpassed every level of provocation by issuing and renew-ing a Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) which designates the southern regions ofour EEZ, even opposite the free coastlines of the Republic of Cyprus, the UN Sec-retary-General is content with a mere recording of the fact, without exerting anycriticism whatsoever. How is it possible that such a blatant violation of Interna-tional Law, the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea is tak-ing place and the UN General-Secretary simply records the fact that a NAVTEXhas been issued? Common sense says that this stand not only does not help towardsdefusing the crisis, but rather encourages Turkey to continue to provoke andbrazenly violate fundamental principles of International Law.

Legitimate questions are also being provoked by the reference to a lifting of the iso-lation and to restrictions that impede the economic development of the TurkishCypriot community and make it unable to participate effectively in an interdepen-dent world. This extremely problematic phraseology did not exist in the Reportsissued over the last several years. The only way for a definitive solution of thisissue is the solution of the Cyprus problem and such inappropriate and unfortunatereferences only encourages separatist tendencies and operate among the TurkishCypriots and Turkey itself as a counter-incentive for a solution.

It is now abundantly clear that the Cyprus problem is progressing on a dangerouspath, something which AKEL has been tirelessly warning about for the last twoyears, always submitting specific proposals as to what should be done. It is imper-ative that initiatives are taken, even now, based on principles, but also capable eitherof forcing Turkey to defuse the crisis it itself has created, or at least to convincethe international community to channel its efforts towards the right direction.

Statement of Toumazos Tsielepis,

Head of the Cyprus problemOffice of the C.C. and

member of the Political Bureau of AKEL

15th January 2015, Nicosia

UN Secretary General’s report is unbalanced

The Cypus Problem is progressing on a dangerous path

AKEL, based on the information it has re-ceived so far, assesses the visit of Presidentof the Republic to the Russian Federation

as positive and we hope it signals the upgrading ofthe relations between the two countries.

Moreover, AKEL's appeals to the Anastasiades gov-ernment to proceed in this direction was constant,given that the Russian Federation - with the prin-cipled positions it upholds - remains all these yearsa consistent supporter of Cyprus with regards theCyprus problem. The Russian Federation is at thesame time a major economic partner of our country,despite the damage caused to this sector as a resultof the decisions taken in March 2013.

Furthermore, we express the hope that this visit, incombination with the recent public admission of thePresident of the Republic that his friends and part-ners had once again tricked him, will signal theabandonment of the one-dimensional character ofthe foreign policy pursued by the Anastasiades gov-ernment.

The replacement of the dogma "Cyprus belongs tothe West" with the principle that "Cyprus belongsto its people" and that our country's foreign policymust serve the interests of our people, is an indis-pensable and essential action, condition.

The abandonment of the government's dogmaticposition that Cyprus must stop seeking supportfrom all directions and maintaining balances in ourforeign policy, which has led it to pin all its hopeson the Americans and NATO, is of decisive impor-tance.

In anticipation of an official briefing on the resultsof the visit and whether it will lead in practice to therestoration of the multidimensional nature ofCyprus' foreign policy, AKEL stresses that it willcontinue to judge the government handling and pol-icy options in good faith, but at the same timestrictly.

AKEL C.C. Press Office 26th February 2015

AKEL on President’s visit to Russia

Yesterday's statement by the United States Am-bassador via Twitter was unfortunate andbreached diplomatic ethics.

The attempt to elicit a negative reaction from Cypriotcitizens regarding the visit of the President of the Re-public to Moscow is an unacceptable action that goesbeyond diplomatic customs.

The Republic of Cyprus is duty bound to have as itsprincipal concern the need to serve its own interestsand that is why it cannot be under the guardianship oreven the criticism of the representative of any thirdcountry.

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 2nd March 2015

US Ambassador’s unacceptable action

Inthe two-day session of the National Council wedealt with the issue of the strategy that must befollowed on the Cyprus problem. By strategy,

we mean the sought aim, which for AKEL remains the con-tinuity of the Republic of Cyprus and its evolvement into abi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality asdefined in relevant resolutions of the United Nations Se-curity Council. In this sense, AKEL considers that nochange in strategy is needed. Tactics and the given handlingof issues designed to achieve the strategic goal is anothermatter. Tactics cannot be static and depend on the givenspecific conditions.

We all agree that the Cyprus problem is essentially an in-ternational problem of Turkish invasion and occupation; aproblem of the violation of the human rights of the Cypriotpeople as a whole, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.However, the Cyprus problem also has an internal aspect,a fact that cannot be overlooked. The compromise of bi-communal bi-zonal federation was accepted not becausethere was any ignorance of the substance of the Cyprusproblem. On the contrary, federation was accepted preciselybecause there was a complete realisation of the conse-quences of the coup d'état, invasion and occupation, as well

as of the need to create the preconditions for lifting the par-titionist faits accomplis. Bi-zonal, bi-communal federationis the compromise which we have accepted as a result of thetreasonous coup d'état and the brutal Turkish invasion. Itis extremely important that this bitter on the one hand, butnevertheless undeniable historical truth should never escapeour attention.

Bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as the sought solution ofthe Cyprus problem is included in the first High-LevelMakarios - Denktash Agreement of 1977. Since then it hasbeen reaffirmed by all the Presidents of the Republic ofCyprus and been adopted by the UN Security Council inits resolutions. It is also our long-standing position, whichis enshrined in numerous UN resolutions, as well as in thetwo Christofias - Talat Joint Communiques, that federalCyprus will have a single sovereignty, a single citizenshipand a single international personality. Finally, politicalequality, as defined by relevant UN resolutions, has beenagreed.

At the session of the National Council AKEL analysed con-cisely the content of all these concepts which , in our opin-ion, represent the minimum content of the agreed

Statement by Andros Kyprianou, General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL, on the discussion at 19th February sessionof the National Council

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framework for the solution of the Cyprus problem; onestate with a single sovereignty, a single international per-sonality and a single citizenship. A bi-communal, bi-zonalfederation with political equality as defined in relevant UNSecurity Council resolutions. Therefore, if we are really in-terested in the content, not the label, then we must give anunequivocal reply to the following question: Do we acceptthis minimum content or not?

Furthermore, is the disengagement from the framework setout by the High-Level Agreements and the resolutions ofthe UN Security Council and the open or covert pursuit ofa unitary state feasible? If this is our conclusion at a timewhen we are fighting with tooth and nail to prevent the up-grading of the pseudo-state, then we fear that we are beingcompletely unrealistic.

The dilemma set before us by the coup d'état and invasionis between federation and partition. The return to the timesof questioning the compromise of afederal solution, no matter how well-intentioned it may be, ultimatelyleads to the permanent partition ofour island.

We have no illusions that if the cur-rent crisis is defused and negotiationsresume, it will be easy to reach a fed-eral solution. The reason is simple:Turkey is in fact not seeking a federalcompromise, but rather confederationor partition. However, do we haveany other option but the talks as themeans to solve the Cyprus problem?Without talks there cannot be anyagreed solution. Without an agreedsolution the partitionist status quowill be consolidated every day. Onlythrough talks can we expose Turkey,reveal her real objectives and create conditions for the ex-ertion of pressure on her to abandon her illegal and anachro-nistic partitionist objectives and accept in practice thecompromise of federation.

This is what AKEL means when it strongly insists on theneed to stick to the strategy and framework of the solutionagreed since 1977. The question is: Can we, after forty years,change strategy? Have the given conditions and balance offorces changed dramatically in our favour and are we thusin a position - without suffering a heavy cost - to success-fully attempt to do this?

In our view, no. On the contrary, not only has the situationnot changed in our favour, but it is strengthening Turkey's

role in the region. Certainly, Cyprus' accession to the Eu-ropean Union is a comparative advantage that can andshould be used in the efforts to solve the Cyprus problem.However, we must not overestimate the role which the Eu-ropean Union may or would like to play. The expectationsthat the European Union will insist on a solution based onprinciples upon which it is based, principles that indeedmany circles and forces identify with the desired solutionof the Cyprus problem, have not been confirmed by life it-self. Unfortunately, the European Union does not alwayssupport the principles of the solution as we perceive them,while in many cases it supports or tolerates the Turkishside's approaches. I will not go too far back in time, but sim-ply recall the tolerance the EU showed with regards theissue of the NAVTEX issued by Turkey, which is fla-grantly violating the relevant UN Treaty on the Law of theSea, that is part of the acquis communautaire.

We often hear that we must create conditions so thatTurkey will have a political cost andthat we have never followed an as-sertive policy. We do not disagreethat where it is possible we have to doso, trying to serve the goal of the so-lution, and not the perpetuation of thedeadlock. We have no illusions, how-ever. We have not heard any concreteproposals on how we could createsuch a cost for Turkey while simulta-neously creating preconditions for asolution. This is no accident. Intoday's world the policy of the majorimperialist countries is not the preva-lence of International Law but insteadtheir own selfish interests. Whateverwe do, it is an illusion to believe thatwe can be more "useful" to the West-ern powers than Turkey. This is beingdemonstrated today for the

umpteenth time.

Turkey, illegally designating a part of the Exclusive Eco-nomic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus and hinderingthe work in progress, is exploiting its position of strengthand the tolerance shown by her allies, the US and Britain,in the war against the jihadists.

We have on many occasions analysed in public, but alsoduring the Meetings between the Political Leaders andwithin the framework of the National Council, what in ourview should be done so that we do not enter into any ad-ventures on the Cyprus problem, as well as with regards thecalamity with the Joint Communique, President Anastasi-ades' reckless decision not to continue the talks from the

“We have no illusionsthat if the current crisis isdefused and negotiationsresume, it will be easy toreach a federal solution.

The reason is simple:Turkey is in fact not seek-ing a federal compromise,but rather confederation orpartition. ”

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point they were left and the deadlock methodology that wasagreed to continue the talks. We hope, even at this stage,all these will make President Anastasiades reflect on hisfurther handling of issues.

What is now the priority is to address the Turkish provo-cations; to overturn the fait accomplis and resume the ne-gotiation procedure. AKEL believes that the collectivetackling of the situation is imperative, by drawing lessonsfrom the path pursued until now, far from petty-politicalor petty-party considerations and experiences. The situa-tion is critical and joint action is imperative, insofar as thisis possible.

As AKEL, we had submitted a proposal after the first Turk-ish NAVTEX which however was not adopted in time. Inthe course of events most of its aspects were partially andfragmentarily included in separate proposals of the Presi-dent. I do not claim that our proposal was the magic wandthat would have forced Turkey to end its provocations. Itwas, however, a comprehensive proposal without violatingour "red lines". It would have convinced at least the inter-national community and we would have avoided the worstReport in decades of the UN Secretary-General. And thisoccurred, despite the fact that the President of the Republicerroneously accepted to put the issue of natural gas on the

negotiating table during their last phase. This proposal wasunable to prevent Turkey from issuing the new NAVTEX. The situation is now critical. For two years now the onlything that has been achieved is the drawing up of the JointCommunique. Substantive talks have not managed even tocommence and the negotiation procedure was suspended.While Turkey is more provocative than ever, the UN Sec-retary-General not only did not find a word to say aboutthis but he remembered the alleged isolation of the TurkishCypriots as well. Within this gloomy framework, we endedup expressing satisfaction about a resolution which in real-ity says absolutely nothing. And while all this is happening,instead of reflecting on what should be done some have re-membered for the umpteenth time to discuss in general andvague terms about the need for a change in strategy.

In conclusion, I want to stress that no one possesses the absolute truth.

I have set out AKEL's approach, which I think is comprehensive, well-substantiated, principled

and at the same time realistic. However we are ready to listen and discuss

in detail other proposals, so long as they are based on theagreed framework and serve the goal of the solution.

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The issue of the missing persons is the most painfulaspect of the on-going Cyprus tragedy. The ordealof the Cyprus missing persons began in the 1960s

with a limited number of missing persons and reaches itspeak with nearly 2000 missing persons in the military in-vasion by Turkey that spread destruction in 1974 and hassince kept the island divided. Today, 2001 Cypriots aremissing for several decades now. 1508 Greek Cypriots and493 Turkish Cypriots. You will only fully realize the extentof the tragedy of the missing persons in our Cyprus, whenyou consider that in proportion to the population of Cyprus,this equals to 165,000 Germans or 122,000 British or 18,000Swedish or 20,000 Czechs, gone and missing for decades...For these people there is no information about the condi-tions under which they disappeared. For the majority ofmissing persons there are no bones for the relatives to bury,no graves, for the relatives to mourn. There are only photos!We, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, are stillshedding tears and burying our beloved ones.

As a result of the persistent efforts of the Cyprus govern-ment and the protests of the relatives of missing personsand following relevant resolutions of the UN General As-sembly and other organizations, the Committee on MissingPersons (CMP) was established in 1981 under the auspicesof the UN. The program was launched in 2005 on the basisof an agreed list regarding the number of missing persons.The CMP consists of a representative of the G/C side, arepresentative of the T/C side and a third member ap-pointed by the UN. In the framework of the programme,the bones of 564 missing persons have been identified usingthe DNA method. 430 of them are G/C and 134 T/C. Un-fortunately, over the last three years, there has been a re-duced number of effective exhumations, the lowestnumbers figuring in 2013, when the percentage of excava-tions where remains were found amounted only to 15%.

The main obstacle in this process is the refusal of Turkeyto cooperate and provide information through its armyarchives, but also to allow exhumations in areas which have

been characterized as military.

AKEL has ceaselessly been raising the issue of the missingpersons inside the European Parliament since the Republicof Cyprus' accession in 2004. AKEL made its own contri-bution, together of course with other forces, to the approvalby an overwhelming majority of a European Parliament res-olution (12th February 2015) on the mass graves of the miss-ing persons of the village of Ashia in Ornithi village in theoccupied part of Cyprus The initiative, which was under-taken by the political group of the Left and the EuropeanPeople's Party won support from all the political groups inthe European Parliament, is the result of a painstaking ef-fort that began from the very beginning of AKEL's partic-ipation in the European institutions.

With explicit references to Turkey's illegal actions, in vio-lation of International Humanitarian Law, conventionaland customary, the relevant decisions of the EuropeanCourt of Human Rights and the UN, Turkey the "de factooccupying force" is called upon to facilitate the efforts beingmade by the CMP, to give full access to its archives, to im-mediately cease the deliberate and criminal removal of theremains of missing persons and to provide information re-garding new burial sites, a practice that unfortunately doesnot only concern those identified in the mass graves in thevillage of Ornithi. Turkey's actions, as the Resolution cor-rectly points out, show a complete lack of respect for themissing persons and constitute a flagrant violation of theright of their families to finally know the real conditions ofthe deaths of their loved ones.

At the same time, the European Parliament calls for everyeffort to be made for the speeding up of the CMP's investi-gations. This stand reflects our position that for the inves-tigations to be accelerated, the government and the EUshould make every effort to also ensure the necessary finan-cial support to the CMP's efforts for a speedy and final ver-ification of the fate of the missing persons.

Missing CypriotsTime does not heal the wounds

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The statements made by the leading member of theRepublican Turkish Party (CTP) Dogus Derya be-fore the so-called "parliament" of the occupied

areas concerning the crimes committed by the Turkisharmy against Greek Cypriots during the 1974 war caused astir. These statements provoked strong reactions from thenationalist forces inside the Turkish Cypriot community.

At the same time, they were greeted by progressive voiceson both sides of the "green line" of division. AKEL Memberof the House of Representatives Skevi Koukouma issued astatement saluting the courage shown by Dogus Derya,

whilst also referring to the responsibilities of the nationalistand chauvinist circles within the Greek Cypriot commu-nity for the crimes they committed against Turkish Cypri-ots.

AKEL also expressed its solidarity with the strugglingTurkish Cypriot conscientious objector Haluk Selam To-ufanli who was arrested because he refused to serve as a re-servist in the Turkish occupation army. A relevant questionon the subject was put before the European Commission byAKEL Member of the European Parliament Neoklis Syliki-otis.

"If we do not tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth

we will not rebuild the trust between the two communities"

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For a some days now, our Turkish Cypriot compatriot,leading member of the Republican Turkish Party, DogusDerya has come under vile sexist attacks from the most re-actionary forces, extreme-right wing Turkish Cypriots andTurkish settlers, in the occupied areas because she coura-geously called upon the Turkish Cypriots not to forget thecrimes that had been committed against Greek Cypriotsand the raping of women by the Turkish army in 1974.Do�u� Derya deserves to be congratulated for her courage.

Those forces and circles however within the Greek Cypriotcommunity saluting the bold stance taken by Dogus Deryamust have the corresponding boldness to also say the truthsthat do not suit our community, that is to say that theseforces must also admit the crimes committed by the GreekCypriots fascists against Turkish Cypriot civilians and pris-oners. Weren't those who committed the bloody massacresin the villages of Maratha, Aloa, Sandalari and Tochni 1974,the raping of women, the slaughter of children and execu-tion of unarmed prisoners, Greek Cypriots (and indeedcoming from that sector that defines itself as being the mostpatriotic of all)? Wasn’t it Greek Cypriots the ones whokilled children during the inter-communal clashes, whoseremains we are now discovering dumped in wells?

If you do not tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing butthe truth you will not rebuild the trust between the twocommunities. Maybe the trust and rapprochement betweenGreek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots cannot on its ownbring the solution of the Cyprus problem, given that

Ankara was, and still re-mains, the obstacle, butit is a necessary condi-tion to be able to reach afederal solution, andmore specifically forthis solution to be ableto function in practice.

If we do not also say that chauvinism - Greek Cypriot andTurkish Cypriot - did not appear out of nowhere but wasimplanted by foreign forces with whom Cypriots cooper-ated with, then the young generation will not truly under-stand that the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots - asthey had done before in the past - can live again together inthe same cities, in the same neighbourhoods and in the samestate, in peace and friendship.

The view is often expressed by some Greek Cypriots thatwhen we talk about these dark sides of our history, wetherefore are vindicating or justifying the Turkish occupa-tion. However, in AKEL's view we do not need to keepquiet and say nothing about aspects of the historical truthin order to condemn and struggle against the on-going dis-grace of the Turkish occupation. On the contrary, only ifwe all uncover the human pain suffered by all, can we seethe full historical picture of the imperialist crime committedagainst Cyprus and its people.

AKEL C.C. Press Office 18th December 2014

AKEL denounces attacks on Dogus Derya

The Turkish Cypriot Haluk Selam Tufanli is a conscien-tious objector and refused to serve the occupation armywith his participation in the annual obligatory military ex-ercises conducted in the territories of the Republic ofCyprus under the occupation of Turkey. As a result of hisdecision in 2011 not to take part in war preparations (as a re-servist) since 5th November 2013 he was been in an ongoingtrial until 4th December 2014 where the so-called military"court" of the pseudo-state in the occupied areas sentencedhim to 10 days imprisonment.

The right to refuse military service is enshrined in the Eu-ropean Charter of Human Rights and conscientious objec-tors have the possibility of doing an alternative service.However, Haluk Selam Tufanli was sentenced by the oc-cupational authorities to prison.

This issue was raised before the European Commission byNeoklis Sylikiotis AKEL MEP and Vice-President of theGroup of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left

GUE/NGL, when he putthe question whether theEU intends to denouncethis incident, which, as heunderlined, constitutes aviolation of the human rights of a person who refused toserve the occupation army. In addition, the AKEL MEPcalled on the European Commission to give an answerwhether it intends to make representations to the TurkishGovernment.

In the question he sent to the European Commission,AKEL MEP Neoklis Sylikiotis stressed that in the occupiedareas of Cyprus, people are tried in a military court and thepolice are under the control of the Turkish army, whilst thewhole area is under the control of the Turkish occupationarmy.

Statement of AKEL MEP and GUE/NGL Vice-President Neoklis Sylikiotis

5th December 2014, Brussels

Solidarity with Turkish Cypriot conscientious objector Haluk Selam Tufanli

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Over 10,000 people responded to the call of thePlatform of Trade Union and Social organ-isations "Society reacts and asserts" to voice

their anger, but also their resolve to continue massstruggles against the directorate and ruling circles ofBrussels. Outside the European Central Bank sessionin Nicosia workers, unemployed, teachers and stu-dents, farmers, pensioners and many others denouncedthe brutal Memoranda policies serving capital's inter-ests. The Cypriot people are resisting and fighting forgrowth, jobs and progress, an end to the dismantlingof the welfare state, privatisations and the selling offof public wealth, the respect of labour relations, collec-tive agreements and working people's rights and gains.

Three mass marches were organised in the capital'sstreets to merge at the big rally organised by the Plat-form of 18 trade unions and social organisations. Theclass-based trade union of PEO, the biggest trade unionfederation, has played the pivotal role in the forging ofa broad movement around specific goals.

Massive protest against austerity4th of March - European Central Bank meeting in Nicosia

"We assert with determination""Thousands of Cypriots resisted and demanded dignity"

The front page of AKEL's newspaper “Haravgi”the day after the great mobilization

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Among the slogans shouted were: "Money for educationand health - not for the bankers and plutocracy", "Students-workers, one voice, one fist", "Forward people, do not yield-the only path is resistance and struggle", "Cyprus, Greece,Spain-the plutocracy must pay for the crisis", "Capitalismis not our future",

Present among others were trade union and social move-ments from Greece, France, Italy, Austria, GUE MEPFabio di Masi and WFTU General Secretary G. Mavrikios.

PEO General Secretary P. Kyritsis stated, "The EU rulingcircles have imposed their policies through blatant black-mail and threats. The people must not yield. Only resist-ance and struggle will create preconditions for other policiesleading to growth, progress and social justice. No more aus-terity and "restructuring" which only lead to the savageshifting of the wealth created by the many to the few. Wedemand growth, jobs with rights and respect."

"Hands off pensioners!"

The Union of Cypriot Pensioners EKYSY, which isaffiliated to PEO, has made its own impressive con-tribution in every popular mobilization held in re-cent years with its mass participation, organizationand militancy.

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"The Memorandum is damaging education severely"'

The Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of SchoolPupils (PSEM) is the union of secondary school stu-dents of all public schools in Cyprus. Traditionally,PSEM is led by the progressive student organizationof the Left (PEOM) and this is why it wages a com-bative campaign for a public, democratic and human-ist school.

In the popular mobilizations against the Memoran-dum, which has also had a devastating effect onCypriot education, school pupils are making theirown militant contribution under the flags and ban-ners of PSEM.

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Together with Lyceum school pupils, the students ofCyprus also had a dynamic participation with the flags oftheir trade union body, the Pancyprian Federation StudentUnions (POFEN), in which all the student unions operat-ing in the public and private universities in Cyprus are af-filiated to, as well as in cities abroad where Cypriotstudents are studying and are active (Greece, Britain,Czech Republic, Bulgaria etc.).

The militant orientation of POFEN is due also to the biginfluence which the student section of the Left, ProgressiveStudent's Movement, has among Cypriot student move-ment and which traditionally is the strongest student or-ganisation gaining over 40% of the vote.

The mobilization of 4th March united numerous so-cial and professional organizations that have beenharshly affected by the austerity policies.

Among them were the teachers unions in primary andsecondary education, the Pancyprian Organization ofProfessional Craftsmen and Shopkeepers (POVEK),the Union of Cypriot Journalists, Pancyprian Organi-zation of Large Families (POP), Pancyprian Organi-sation of Five-Member Family (POPO), Movementagainst Foreclosures, the Movement against Privatisa-tions and the Culture Movement.

"Women resist austerity. They struggle for equality"

The women of Cyprus are doubly af-fected by the Memoranda policies, butalso from the policy of the Anastasi-ades government. The dismantling ofthe welfare state, privatizations and thedestruction of labour relations are af-fecting women in particular.

"End austerity - We want jobs - PEO construction workers"

The building and construction workers are tra-ditionally the most militant section of the class-based trade union movement of PEO. Themajority of them are today unemployment be-cause of the capitalist crisis and the severe reces-sion in the construction industry. Hundreds ofbuilding workers, Greek Cypriots, TurkishCypriots and immigrants joined forces withtheir fellow workers.

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AKEL, the Pluralist Left of Spain and the Portuguese Com-munist Party, under the aegis of the group of the EuropeanUnited Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), organised ajoint meeting in the European Parliament on the economicand social situation in Europe and the Memoranda on 14thof November. Trade unions and social organisations/move-ments from Cyprus, Portugal and Spain participated in thediscussion.

One of the keynote speakers at the meeting was AndrosKyprianou, General Secretaryof the C.C. of AKEL whostressed that “optimism is builtthrough joint action and strug-gle”, pointing out the impor-tance of rejecting the path of theMemoranda and neo-liberalism.

Cayo Lara, Federal Coordinatorof Izquierda Unida, Spain, wasanother keynote speaker whoreferred to the manifold strug-gles it is developing in Spain inorder to safeguard working peoples gains and labour rights.On behalf of the Portuguese Communist Party Joao Fer-reira, Member of the C.C and PCP MEP referred to thestruggle waged by the Party on three fronts (renegotiationof the public debt, regain member-state’s economic, fiscaland monetary sovereignty and public control over enter-prises and the economy’s strategic sectors).

The discussion was chaired by AKEL MEP Neoklis Syliki-otis, who noted in his introduction that the increase in thestrength of the daily struggles of the workers movements

in our countries demonstrate that another Europe is possi-ble.

On behalf of the trade unions, Pambis Kyritsis, the GeneralSecretary of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour PEO ofCyprus, Carlos Braga from the Movement of public serviceusers of Portugal and Carlos Martinez, member of ATTACfrom Spain all made keynote speeches too. The trade unionorganisations analysed the pressures exerted on workingpeople and the need for the EU to change course. On behalf

of social movements, representatives of organisations andmovements from Cyprus, such asthe Movement against Privatisa-tions, the Movement against Fore-closures, the Pancyprian TradeUnion of Public Doctors, Smallshopkeepers’ union POVEK, thePancyprian Organisation of LargeMember Families POPO, repre-sentatives from the sector ofnurses organised in the Pan-cyprian Public Employees TradeUnion PASYDY, as well as from

the Progressive Movements of Secondary and Primaryschool teachers and Students all made their own interven-tions. MEP’s from GUE/NGL and other political groupswere also present.

A constructive discussion followed between the speakersand representatives of social movements who submitted theviews of their organisations in relation to the negative con-sequences the Memoranda and austerity policies have andare having in the social and economic sectors they are activein.

Meeting organised in cooperation with GUE/NGL on “The Economic and Social Situation in Europe and the Memoranda”

The Cyprus economy remained in recession in 2014as a result of both the significant drop in consump-tion due to cuts in wages and incomes, partly be-

cause of the credit crunch in the banking sector which ledto a significant deterioration in investments from both thepublic and the private sector. These conditions are expectedto continue throughout the period of the Memorandum'simplementation as a result of the basic targets that havebeen determined by Troika and Government, namely thecreation of fiscal surpluses, the reduction of the banking sec-tor's size and the further liberalization of the economythrough the imposition of "structural reforms".

The Anastasiades government'spronouncements about "a return tosustainable growth", "more jobs"and "enhancing social cohesion" arerefuted by the program's content.In 2014 there was already a signifi-cant reduction in employment, anunprecedented growth in povertyindicators and subsequently in theeconomy's recessionary rates.

In 2013 the recession reached 5.4%,while in the first two three-monthperiods of 2014, it rose to 3% on av-erage and in conjunction with therevision of the method GDP is cal-culated it is expected to drop below 3% for 2014. For 2015 theIMF maintained its forecast for weak growth at + 0.4%,while the Fiscal Council forecasts zero growth in 2015. Therating agencies forecast a recession close to -2%.

Public debt continues to grow and today has exceeded 100%of the GDP according to the new figures stemming fromthe international restructuring in the way GDP is calcu-lated. Both the recession, which affects GDP (resulting in

the percentage of the public debt in relation to the country'sproduction growing) and the increase in loans Cyprus is re-ceiving from the IMF and the Stability Mechanism, con-tribute to this rising public debt. With regards the fiscaldeficit, although the Government's fiscal balance has im-proved, the cost to growth and society is intolerable. For2014 the cuts in wages and transfers to municipalities andsemi-governmental organizations are expected to reach €500million.

Cyprus registered the first place in the EU statistics on thereduction in wages in 2014 as well. According to "Eurostat",in the first nine months of 2014 wages fell by an average of

4%. This fall in wages whenadded to a reduction of 6% in 2013,has resulted in a drop of 10% inworking people's purchasingpower in less than two years.

The claim by the government andemployers that the reduction oflabour costs is boosting "theCyprus economy's competitive-ness" is refuted. Exports fell by4.2% compared to 2012, while dur-ing the first half of 2014 exportsdeclined compared to the corre-sponding period of 2013. This con-tributed only towards increasing

company profit margins. A typical example is the tourismindustry where the reduction of labour costs has not led toan increase in tourist arrivals, but to a decrease of 2.4% in2013 and 7.8% in the first three months of 2014. The increaseof 9.3% in arrivals in the second three month period of 2014is due mainly to external developments in the region whichhave contributed to the increased tourist influx, predomi-nantly from Russia.

Cyprus Economy: Recession and austerityare deepening

Cyprus registered the first placein the EU statistics on the reduc-tion in wages in 2014. According

to "Eurostat", in the first ninemonths of 2014 wages fell by an

average of 4%. This fall in wageswhen added to a reduction of 6%in 2013, has resulted in a drop of

10% in working people's purchas-ing power in less than two years.

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The intensity of the austerity measures continues to have a pow-erful impact on the labour market, both in the size of employ-ment and the number of unemployed. Employment fell by 5.2%or by 20,000 in 2013 and in 2014 it rose to about -4.2%. The stabi-lization in the unemployment rate to around 16% (73,000 - thethird highest rate in the European Union) is due on the one handto the wave of migration of Community workers and Cypriotsmigrating abroad, while a number of jobs have been kept as a re-sult of the further deregulation of labour relations and rise of part-time employment. Youth unemployment around 40% is veryworrying. The increase in the long-term unemployment, whichhas risen to 7.5%, is also of deep concern.

In this socio-economic environment the government and the gov-erning DISY Rally party are promoting much more resolutelythe privatization of profitable semi-governmental organizationsand have already closed down the national airline. At the sametime, they do not accept the protection of the primary family res-idence which the House of Representatives approved on the leg-islation concerning foreclosures, whilst they are also expandingthe brutal austerity measures, such as the virtual abolition of gov-ernment policy on refugees and the curbing of the student pack-age.

The second Memorandum Budget of 2015 was approved by the29 MP's of DISY, DIKO and the European Party and rejected byAKEL, the Movement of Social Democrats EDEK, the Ecolo-gists, the "Citizens Alliance" and one independent MP.

According to the unanimous decision of the C.C. of AKEL, thisBudget is a "bloody austerity" and "trapped in the Memorandum'sphilosophy" which prevents Cyprus' exit from the recession "un-dermining the social sectors of health, welfare and education".Expenditure remains stagnant following last year's cuts amount-ing to € 626 million in total, cuts of 20% in development expen-diture and cuts amounting to € 126 million in social, health andeducation benefits.

The 2015 Budget, the second MemorandumBudget, was approved by the 29 MP's of DISY,DIKO and the European Party and rejected by 26MP’s (AKEL, Movement of Social DemocratsEDEK, the Ecologists, the "Citizens Alliance" andone independent MP) .

"We have no money for food and petrol"

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On9th January 2015 the European Commis-sion decided that the financial supportCyprus Airways (CA) was receiving from

the Cyprus state was incompatible with EU competitionrules and hence the company, which had already been fac-ing serious financial problems, had to return the money tothe state. The Finance Minister however, just days beforeand without even studying the text of the decision, hadgiven orders to the Board of CA to close down the companyand through rapid procedures declare its bankruptcy.

As a result CA were led to their closure after 67 years of op-eration, leaving Cyprus without a national airline while sixhundred families of its employees found themselveswithout a job. Television images of the last flight ofCyprus Airways and the workers reactions who hadlost their jobs caused a shock in Cypriot society.

The Anastasiades government and the right-wing ne-oliberal DISY Rally party, together with the massmedia aligned to it, attempted to describe the closureof CA as "the inevitable outcome of an organizationthat accumulated losses because of irregularities andmismanagement." However, the truth is quite dif-ferent.There were indeed distortions and mismanage-ment, but the DISY Rally party is the least eligi-ble to speak about these, given that it was during

its own spell in government (1993-2003) that decisions weretaken which sacrificed the company's very future.

One such decision was the establishment in 2002 of a sub-sidiary company in Greece (Hellas Jet) which cost 85 mil-lion Euros to CA. This resulted in the CA Board in 2003inheriting a loss of 60 million Euros. The purchase of Boe-ing aircraft for "Eurocypria" (subsidiary company of CAthat operated from 1992 until 2010) were erroneous and dam-aging and not "Airbus" CA already had.

In the press in that period there were numerous articles andreports about pressures being exerted by the US and about

"kickbacks" worth millions. Questions also remainabout the purchase of two

large A330 aircraft for

After 69 years Cyprus is without a national airline

The Anastasiades government closed down Cyprus Airways

“Mission Accomplished”“Haravgi” frontline on10th of January comment-ing deliberate and method-ical policy of the DISYgovernment to closeCyprus Airways and leavethe field open to profitabil-ity for private airline com-panies already operating inCyprus.

CA, which even flying with passengers full, recorded losses.Finally, the DISY party administration bears enormous re-sponsibilities for the reckless hiring of personnel in CA tothe point that in 2002, during the election year, the numberof the company's employees rose sharply to 2,200 employ-ees. To make a comparison, in 2012 the company's employ-ees were almost half the number.

However, the essence is that the CA's closure was not aninevitable outcome, but a deliberate and methodical policyof the DISY government to leave the field open to prof-itability for private airline companies already operating inCyprus. It is indeed significant to point out that PresidentAnastasiades' own Advisor on aviation issues Peter Chris-tou resigned a few months ago complaining that "The gov-ernment is behaving as if it wishes to receive a negativeresponse from the European Commission's CompetitionDirectorate." Actually, when in 2012 the previousChristofias government tabled in the House of Represen-tatives a Restructuring Plan of CA («Air France Plan")which would have saved the airline, DISY and the centre-right Democratic Party, who were both in opposition andhad the majority in the House, managed to revoke it, butalso to amend the institutional framework so that theycould impose an Administrative Board to their liking.

The current Minister of Finance Harris Georgiades played

a leading role in all these actions. In fact the redundant CAworkers stated to the media on the very night the decisionwas taken to close down the company that the current Pres-ident of DISY Averof Neophytou repeatedly threatenedthem that he would "shut CA down".

Another scandalous "detail" denounced by AKEL also com-plemented the policy to sell-off CA. The airline "Ryanair"with which the government held discussions on the sale ofCA, had as its legal representative the "Nikos Anastasiadesand associates" Law Firm, that is to say the Law Firm of thePresident of the Republic himself that is now run by hisdaughters.

AKEL demanded an explanation about this scandalous in-terweaving interest, but primarily called on the governmentto proceed with an appeal against the decision of Brusselsby seeking an agreement with the European Commissionfor a gradual retrieval of any debts of Cyprus Airways tothe state.

However it is clear that the Anastasiades government andDISY party is determined to proceed forcefully to the sell-ing off of Cyprus' public wealth and property, given thatthe procedures are vigorously being promoted for the pri-vatization of the three profitable semi-state organizationsin Cyprus, namely the Cyprus Ports Authority, the CyprusElectricity Authority and the Cyprus TelecommunicationsAuthority.

The airline "Ryanair" with which the govern-ment held discussions on the sale of Cyprus Air-ways, had as its legal representative the "NikosAnastasiades and associates" Law Firm, that isto say the Law Firm of the President of the Re-public himself that is now run by his daughters.

Inthe last year due to Israel's growing aggressive-ness, culminating in its attack on Gaza, AKELhas developed intense activity on a local but also

international level to strengthen the just struggle of thePalestinian people. Through these activities AKEL con-stantly expresses its solidarity with the just struggle of thePalestinian people to ensure its rights and support its effortsand struggles to establish an independent Palestinian statewithin the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Regional Meeting of the Communist and Workers' Parties of the Middle East focusing on the Palestinian problem

In October 2014, AKEL organized in Cyprus a RegionalMeeting of the Communist and Workers' Parties of theMiddle East on the Palestinian problem together with thePalestinian People's Party and the Communist Party of Is-rael, attended by various fraternal parties in the MiddleEast. Ten parties participated, including two organizations,the World Peace Council and the European UnitedLeft/Nordic Green Left. During the meeting, after thor-ough discussion, a declaration on the Palestinian problemwas issued. All the participating parties expressed their fulland firm solidarity with the Palestinian people who havesuffered the third Israeli attack on Gaza in five years. Theycalled for the recognition of an independent and viablePalestinian state on the borders of 4th June 1967, with East

Jerusalem as its capital. Furthermore, they demanded thatpressure be exerted to force Israel to accept a final and com-prehensive settlement within this framework. At the Meet-ing views were exchanged on joint initiatives by the partiesin the region with the main objective the solution of thePalestinian problem.

Meeting with Palestinian Ambassador

AKEL held a meeting with the Palestinian Ambassador Mr.Walid Hassan at the Palestinian Embassy in Nicosia, onthe occasion of 29th November, International Day of Soli-darity with Palestine, as this has been established by theUnited Nations on the decision of its General Assembly.

AKEL initiatives for an independent and peacefulPalestinian state

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Separate meetings with the Ambassadors and Representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council in Cyprus

In addition, last December an AKEL Delegation met with theAmbassadors or Representatives of Russia, China, France, theUS and Britain. The meetings were held within the frame-work of AKEL's solidarity initiative calling on the interna-tional community to take appropriate action to promoteimmediately a comprehensive solution of the Palestinianproblem. The AKEL Delegation expressed the position thatthe Israeli plans for new settlements must be withdrawn in-stantly and a peace initiative should be promoted. AKEL wel-comed the successive resolutions adopted for the recognitionof Palestine by parliaments in Europe.

The common conclusion was that the Palestinian problem iskey for peace to prevail in the Middle East. AKEL stressedthat the external interventions in the region are accumulatingnew sufferings on the peoples and countries, therefore the in-ternational community, in particular the permanent membersof the UN Security Council, must take immediate steps topromote a solution of the Palestinian problem which is dead-locked because of Israel's stand and positions.

Solidarity Carols of the Children's Movement of EDON and EDON's solidarity mission to Palestine

Every year the Pancyprian Children's Movement of EDONthrough its annual campaign "Carols of Solidarity" activelysupports children in need, both abroad and in Cyprus too.The 'Carols of Solidarity" campaign has established itselfas one of the most important solidarity activities waged byEDON Youth Organisation's Pioneer Movement. Thisyear, the campaign was dedicated to the children of Pales-tine.

The EDON Children's Movement organized events allover Cyprus with solidarity bazaars aiming at informingchildren and people about the situation in Palestine, but alsoselling various products products with the emblem of the

campaign for the financial support of the cause.

From 15/2 to 18/2/2015 and a delegation of EDON YouthOrganisation, headed by its General Secretary Haris Kara-manos, went to the West Bank for the purpose of deliveringthe amount of 4,278.39 Euros to Palestinian children. Thisamount was collected in the recent "Carols of Solidarity"campaign conducted the Children's Movement of EDON.

With this mission, EDON demonstrated in the most prac-tical way it's consistent and unwavering solidarity with thePalestinian people and conveyed its full support of thePalestinian struggle for the recognition of an independent,sovereign and viable Palestinian state, a full member of theUN, within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its cap-ital.

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Antifascist rally

The Central Committee of AKEL organized on Tuesday,11th November, an antifascist event on the occasion of the9th November – International Day against Fascism.

The event was held on the 11th November 2014 at Ledrasstreet in Nicosia. A rally started from the beginning endwas concluded at the end of Ledras street where speecheswere delivered by Stefanos Stefanou, member of the Polit-ical Bureau of AKEL, Abdullah Korkmazhan, General Sec-retary of the United Cyprus Party (BKP), Sylva Tiggiridou,President of the Pancyprian Peace Council and ThemisThemistokleous, member of the Committee “Initiativeagainst the fascist threat”. A cultural program followedwith the singer Marios Constantinou.

“The rising of reactionary and fascist organizations in Europe”

The delegation of AKEL in the Confederal group ofGUE/NGL in the European Parliament and the Promith-eas Research Institute, organized on Friday, 21st November,a discussion on the topic: “The rising of reactionary and fas-cist organizations in Europe”.

The event was held at ETKA-PEO Conference room andthe speakers were Neoclis Sylikiotis, Vicepresident ofGUE/NGL, EMP of AKEL, Ivanchev Tetekin, MP ofCPRF and Kostas Gouliamos, Rector of European Univer-sity Cyprus.

AKEL Antifascist activitieson the occasion of the International Day Against Fascism

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Last year marked 70 years since the founding of AON(Progressive Youth Organisation), whose successoris EDON. It represents a very important anniver-

sary in the history of the People's Movement of the Left,but also for the youth movement in general. We honour the70 years of life, action, struggles, service and sacrifices forthe young generation, our people and for our Cyprus.

Through its militant path and action, struggles and sacri-fices, EDON has embraced and has itself been embraced bythe youth of Cyprus. EDON came from and was foundedfrom the very heart and soul of our youth and people, ex-pressing the genuine interests, concerns, aspirations and vi-sions of the young generation of Cyprus. All through these70 years EDON was the best university of struggle, hard-ship and endurance.

AON-EDON was and is the vanguard force in the struggleagainst imperialism. It has maintained and continues tomaintain the internationalist character of the youth move-ment of Cyprus. International solidarity was and is a testedweapon and a powerful force in the struggle of the peoplesand youth all over the world.

In the 70 year-old history of the AON-EDON it has devel-oped a multifaceted and diverse action through various ac-tivities, political, social, economic, attaching great emphasison cultural development and popular sports. Given its char-acter as a mass political and cultural Organization, it con-tinues to propose an alternative cultural proposal in arts andcultural creation.

Today Cypriot youth are under the fiercest attack as a resultof the crisis of capitalism. EDON, joining its forces with

the entire PeoplesMovement of theLeft, continues tosupport with allthe forces theyoung generation,struggling againstthe savage auster-ity policies whichthe Troika is seek-ing to implementin our country,with the consentof the govern-ment.

EDON continues to be the leading Youth Organisation inthe struggle of our people to solve the Cyprus problem andfor liberation and reunification. EDON combats national-ism-chauvinism and is fighting for the peaceful coexistenceof Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and for a unitedfederal, sovereign and demilitarized Cyprus. Keeping hopealive, EDON is struggling for the peaceful resolution of ourpolitical problem and for liberation from the occupation andthe fait accomplis, for the reunification of our homelandand people within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunalfederation.

EDON today, not only has not extinguished the spark litby the Communist Youth which AON subsequently madea flame, but instead has taken and turned it into a fire thatembraces the hearts of thousands of young people, contin-uing with the glorious 70 year-old history of AON-EDON.

Long live the 70th anniversary of ACN-EDON!

70th anniversary of AON-EDONVanguard youth

The Central Committee of AKEL conveys its warmcomradely and militant greetings to the Commu-nist Party of Britain, to its members and cadres,

for a successful and fruitful 53rd Congress.

At this significant juncture for your Party, the communistsof Cyprus recall the strong, enduring and historical linksbetween the communists and working people of our twocountries. We recall in particular the early stages in the his-tory of the Communist Party of Cyprus and its successor,AKEL. Many Cypriot workers – migrants shaped theirclass consciousness within the ranks of the CommunistParty and at the same time transmitted their experiences tothe communist movement in Cyprus. Among them, thehistorical leader of our Party com. Ezekias Papaioannouwho, together with many other Cypriot and British com-munists, fought and indeed died together in the great anti-fascist battle on the side of Republican Spain againstFranco, but also struggling together in the daily class strug-gles of the labour movement and in numerous internationalsolidarity campaigns.

The relations of several generations of Cypriots migrantsand AKEL’s Branch in Britain with the Communists ofBritain are continuing to this day. We look forward to en-hancing and deepening these relations and joint actions.

AKEL highly appreciates and respects that the British Com-munists have always been in consistent, steadfast and mil-itant solidarity with the struggles of the Cypriot people,Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, for freedom and na-tional independence against British colonialism; against theNATO imperialist plans to subjugate Cyprus; against theon-going Turkish occupation of 37% of our island, the pres-ence of the British military bases and Turkey’s current

provocations and aggressive actions in the Cyprus Exclu-sive Economic Zone in violation of International Law.The struggle against the imperialist new world order istoday more urgent than ever before. The Middle East hasbecome once more the centre of imperialist expansion andaggression against the sovereignty of states, threateningpeace in the entire region, fueling sectarianism and funda-mentalist extremism, civil wars and humanitarian catastro-phe. The international communist movement must at thiscrucial moment stand firmly on the side of the peoples ofthe region, and the communist, left, progressive and anti-imperialist forces in the region by developing joint actionand mass struggles against these military interventions andaggressions; developments that threaten to plunge human-ity into a vicious circle serving imperialist geo-strategic andeconomic interests.

Your Congress is taking place in the midst of the deep crisisof the capitalist system that is shifting even more burdenson working people’s backs and attacking elementary rightsand gains. We are following closely the vital and coherentrole the Communist Party of Britain is playing in the var-ious developing campaigns, leading by example, promotingunited mass action and forging broad alliances within thelabour, social and people’s movement, such as the PeoplesAssembly.

We would like once again to express our militant solidaritytowards your struggles and reiterate our wish to further de-velop the ties between our two Parties. Every success toyour Congress which we are sure will be a new landmarkin the life and struggle of the Communist Party of Britain,in the struggles of the British working people for peace,democracy and socialism.

With fraternal and communist greetings,The Central Committee of AKEL

1.11.2014

Message of the Central Committee of AKEL to the 53rd Congress of the Communist Party of Britain

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The Central Committee of AKEL sent today a sol-idarity message to the French Communist Partyin regards to yesterday’s bloody attack against

working people at the periodical “Charlie Hebdo”. Themain part of the message follows below:

“The Central Committee of AKEL expresses its deep con-dolences to your Party, its members, the French people andthe relatives and comrades of the assassinated cartoonistsand other working people of the newspaper “Charlie

Hebdo” in regards to yesterday’s deadly attack at the head-quarters of the newspaper.

The tragic event consists a black page for the French com-munists since the affiliation of the majority of the cartoon-ists with the struggle and activities of your Party and the“Fête de l’Humanité”, is well known. Furthermore, the at-tack will be recorded as one of the darkest pages regardingthe principles of freedom of expression and democracy.AsAKEL we support the call of your Party for unity of thepeople and organized groups within the context of thestruggle for Liberty, Equality and Fraternity and againstbarbarity, hatred, stigmatization and racism.”

8.01.2015

AKEL in solidarity with theFrench Communist Party regarding Charlie Habdotragedy

Solidarity Message of AKEL tothe Sudanese Communist Party

Dear comrades,

AKEL condemns the oppression of the Sudaneseauthorities over the cadres and the political activ-ities of the Sudanese Communist Party. At the

same time our Party expresses its full solidarity with thestruggle of the Sudanese communists and the people ofSudan for democracy and social justice.

The huge repression of the Sudanese regime; the unfair de-tentions and trials; the violation of human rights and the

victimization of the political struggle are totally con-demnable. Furthermore, the recent accusations over cadresof the Sudanese C.P. – due to their just political activitiesopposing the Sudanese government – under articles of theCriminal Law that also provide death penalty and life im-prisonment must awake the defenders of human rights anddemocracy worldwide.

Thus, we call the international community and the Euro-pean Union to raise its awareness in this continuing deteri-oration of the suppression of the Sudanese Authorities overits people. Moreover, we call them to take a clear positionover the violations of human rights as well over politicaland personal freedoms of the Sudanese people.

As AKEL we are going to take practical political steps forraising awareness over the situation in Sudan at many lev-els internationally.

8.12.2014

AKEL addresses a warm, comradely and militantgreeting to the Communist Party of Israel on theoccasion of its 27th Congress. We salute the thou-

sands of Communists of Israel who are fighting for peace,democracy and socialism.

AKEL greatly appreciates the role of the Communist Partyof Israel which in an extremely harsh and hostile socio-po-litical environment is defending the cause of peace, the endto the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and atwo-state solution that will lead to the proclamation of anindependent Palestinian state in the 1967 borders with EastJerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel. We know verywell that the Communist Party of Israel is a heroic voice inIsraeli society defying the attacks and threats against it.

The Communist Party of Israel is defending democracy andthe equality of all the citizens of Israel, promoting the unityof Jews and Arabs against chauvinism and warmongering.

We share common concerns about the danger of a totaleruption in the fragile region of the Eastern Mediterranean,which has become the centre of intense inter-imperialist ri-valry in our era for the control of the energy reserves andpipelines from energy giants.

Together, we are waging the struggle to rid the Middle Eastof weapons of mass destruction which would also mean thedestruction of the nuclear arsenal the State of Israel illegallyhas at its disposal. On the proposal submitted by AKEL, theHouse of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus ap-proved last October a unanimous resolution calling on theinternational community to proceed with the denucleariza-tion of the Middle East and all the States in the region to

sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of NuclearWeapons.

As AKEL, we particularly appreciate the consistent solidar-ity demonstrated by the Communist Party of Israel withthe struggle of the people of Cyprus for the termination ofthe Turkish occupation and colonization, for the liberation,reunification and demilitarization of our country so thatGreek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will live together ina federal state, in peace and security.

We also highly appreciate the immediate expression of yourParty’s solidarity towards Cyprus, together with the entirecommunist movement, regarding Turkey’s recent provoca-tive actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republicof Cyprus. As you know, since 2013 the forces of the neolib-eral Right are in government, implementing the anti-socialpolicies of the EU and IMF.

At the same time they are seeking Cyprus’ membership orassociation with NATO in line with the overall reorienta-tion of its foreign policy in favour of the US and EU, butalso Israel.

AKEL is struggling with all his forces against this policyand mobilizing against Cyprus and the British bases on theisland being used as a spy base and as an aggressive launch-ing pad for the NATO attacks against the peoples of the re-gion.

We wish every success to the deliberations of your Con-gress and express our desire to strengthen and deepen ourfraternal relations, but also our joint actions within theframework of the anti-imperialist struggle of our peoplesand all the peoples of our region.

The Central Committee of AKEL12.12.2014

AKEL Greeting to the 27th Congress of theCommunist Party of Israel

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Message from AKEL to the XV Congress of PSUC (Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia)

Dear Comrades,

Onbehalf of AKEL - the Pro-gressive Party of theWorking People of Cyprus,

accept warmest comradely greetings of soli-darity and support in your struggles in favourof the working people.

As you meet in Barcelona, the working peopleof your country as well as of many EU mem-ber-states are suffering the brutal results ofthe systemic crisis of capitalism, with the de-struction of the social state built thanks to thework and sacrifices of generations of workingpeople. They pay the price while those that caused the crisisare been awarded further benefits from the IMF, the ECB,the EU, hence winning from the crisis.

We feel that particularly in these conditions the existenceand work of the Communist Party and class-based tradeunions and organisations are of paramount importance.We all have a responsible role to play in the struggle to re-sist austerity and the course of social destruction which arecoupled by authoritarianism and curtailing of democracy.

At the same time, the world is faced with increased mili-tarism, interventionism and wars due to the imperialistpolicies pursued by the US and their European allies.

Unfortunately, the EU, especially following the beginningof the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, is aligning itsexternal policies to a constantly greater extent with the US,causing further militarisation of its external relations andpursuing increase of defence expenditure at a time when ex-penditure for health and education are cut sharply.

Cyprus, still suffering for over 40 years the Turkish mili-tary occupation of 37% of its territory, now faces also theviolation by Turkey of the sovereignty of its Exclusive Eco-

nomic Zone. Turkey violates once again international lawtrying to stop the Republic of Cyprus from exploiting thehydrocarbons discovered in its sea bed. This exacerbatesfurther the high tensions in the area of the Middle East andthe Eastern Mediterranean.

Our response is the continuation of the struggle for the re-unification of our country and people in a bizonal, bicom-munal federation, with single sovereignty, singleinternational personality, single citizenship, where thehuman rights and freedoms are guaranteed for both GreekCypriots and Turkish Cypriots. We aspire to make Cyprusa bridge of peace in the region and not an unsinkable aircraftcarrier as imperialism wishes it.

In these struggles we need each other's solidarity.

Dear comrades,We wish every success to your Congress and strength andunity for your struggles.

Comradely yours,THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF AKEL

16.01.2015

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AKEL congratulatory letter to theCommunist Party of Greece on theresults of the elections in Greece

The General Secretary of the C.C. of AKEL AndrosKyprianou today sent a congratulatory letter tothe General Secretary of the Central Committee

of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Demetris Kout-soumbas for the increase polled in the results recorded bythe KKE in yesterday’s elections held in Greece. The letterincludes the following:

“On behalf of the Central Committee of AKEL I expressmy congratulations for the increase in the electoral strength

of the CommunistParty of Greece in theparliamentary elec-tions on 25th January 2015. The ability of the CommunistParty of Greece to maintain and increase its forces consti-tutes a guarantee for the strengthening of the struggles ofthe Greek people in conditions where their living standardsand rights are suffering bitterly.”

AKEL C.C. Press Office26th January 2015

AKEL congratulates the Presidentof SYRIZA Alexis Tsipras on its electoral victoryThe GeneralSecretary of the

C.C. of AKEL, Andros Kyprianou yesterday evening had atelephone conversation with Mr. Alexis Tsipras and con-gratulated him on the big electoral victory of SYRIZA inthe parliamentary elections of Greece. Today, the GeneralSecretary of the C.C. of AKEL sent the following letter toAlexis Tsipras:

“Mr. Alexis Tsipras,President of SYRIZA,

Both the C.C. of AKEL and personally myself express our warmcongratulations on SYRIZA’s election success yesterday and onyour election as Prime Minister of Greece.The electoral strength the Greek people has given SYRIZA sendsa strong message across Europe and beyond, that the policies ofausterity and exhaustion of the popular strata are no longer beingaccepted and tolerated. This must be understood at a Europeanlevel and the will of the sovereign Greek people should be respectedby all.

As far as Cyprus and its political problem is concerned, we hopethat the new Greek Government will give a new impetus to theefforts to dampen the Turkish intransigence, to the beginning ofsubstantive talks and the solution of the Cyprus problem. As

AKEL, we are always ready and willing to cooperate so as to con-tribute in this direction. Common struggles unite us withSYRIZA. We waged, and will continue to wage, many battles ata European level both within and outside the European UnitedLeft-Nordic Green Left.

I wish every success in the implementation of the Program ofSYRIZA so that the Greek people’s hope for better days is put into practice. “

AKEL calls on the Anastasiades Government -regardless ofthe fact that it belongs to a different ideological and politicalspectrum – to support the effort of the new Greek govern-ment to address the anti-social neoliberal policies being im-posed by the ruling circles in Brussels, which are causingpoverty and misery to the peoples of Europe. The Cypriotpeople who is suffering from the anti-people’s Memoran-dum, is also a victim of these policies. The neoliberal poli-cies of the ruling circles in the European Union mustchange. And this can only be done through assertion andstruggle, and not through submission and apathy.

Statement of Stefanos Stefanou, member of the Political Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL

26th January 2015

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31

The Working Group of the the International Meet-ing of Communist and Workers’ Parties was heldon January 31-February 01, 2015 in Istanbul.

Workers’ Party of Belgium, Communist Party of Brazil(PCdoB), Communist Party of Cuba, The ProgressiveParty of the Working People (AKEL), Communist Partyof Bohemia and Moravia, Communist Party of Greece,Communist Party of India, Tudeh Party of Iran, LebaneseCommunist Party, Portuguese Communist Party, Commu-nist Party of Russian Federation, Russian Workers’ Com-munist Party, and the Communist Party of Ukraine

participated in the meeting hosted by the CommunistParty, Turkey.

The Working Group discussed on the preparations and de-cided on the subject of the 17th International Meeting ofCommunist and Workers’ Parties, which is to be held thisyear in Istanbul. The subject of the meeting was decided as“The tasks of Communist and Workers’ Parties tostrengthen the struggle of the working class against capi-talist exploitation, imperialist wars and fascism, for work-

ers’ and peoples’ emancipation, for socialism” and the Com-munist Party, Turkey, was assigned as the host the meet-ing.

The Working Group adopted AKEL’s proposal for a soli-darity visit of the Working Group in Palestine. AKEL withthe fraternal Palestinian Parties and the CP of Israel willdeal with the coordination of this visit.

The parties participating in the Working Group meetingalso released common statements for solidarity with thePalestinian People, with the Communist Party of Ukraine

and for solidarity with the metal workers whose strike hasbeen cancelled by the AKP government. Further state-

ments were re-leased forsolidarity withPalestine andUkraine.

Following thetermination ofthe WorkingGroup sessions,the representa-

tives of the guest parties participated in the opening cere-mony of an exhibition organized by the Communist Partyat Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center commemorating the as-sassination of Mustafa Suphi, the first leader of the Com-munist Party of Turkey, and his comrades.

AKEL was represented at the Working Group Meeting byCostas Christodoulides Head of the International and Eu-ropean Affairs Bureau of AKEL and member of the C.C.AKEL

31st January-1st February 2015, Istanbul-Turkey

Working Group of International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties

17th International Meetingof Communist and Workers’ Parties

October 2015, Istanbul Turkey

“The tasks of Communist and Workers’ Partiesto strengthen the struggle of the working classagainst capitalist exploitation, imperialist wars

and fascism, for workers’ and peoples’ emancipa-tion, for socialism”

Last month AKEL co-organised with GUE/NGL a Hearing under the title“Cyprus and Energy: Peace and prosperity in the region” at the European Par-liament headquarters in Brussels.

The main speakers at the event were: Andros Kyprianou, Secretary Generalof C.C AKEL, Ali Gule, former President of DEV-IS (Turkish Cypriot “Rev-olutionary Trade Unions Federation”) and Dr. Charles Ellinas, former CEOof ‘KRETYK’ (National Hydrocarbons Company).

AKEL and European United Left-Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) hearing in the European Parliament on

“Cyprus and Energy: Peace and prosperity in the region”

“The natural gas discovered in our region has itsown huge significance in these plans. As AKELwe categorically state that any thoughts that may

be made by certain circles and forces about transfer-ring Cypriot natural gas to the European Unionthrough pipelines from Turkey is not debatable solong as the Cyprus problem remains unsolved and aslong as Turkey continues to illegally occupy Cypriotterritory. Only after the solution of the Cyprus prob-lem can such a development be discussed and a deci-sion taken whether it is technically and economicallyfeasible.

The recent developments demonstrate yetagain the pressing need for a solution of theCyprus problem; a solution that will providefor the withdrawal of the occupation troopsand the settlers; a bi-zonal bi-communal fed-eral solution with political equality as set outby the relevant resolutions of the UN Secu-rity Council; a solution that will safeguard asingle sovereignty, a single international per-sonality and a single citizenship, as well asthe respect of the human rights and funda-mental freedoms of all the citizens of the

united Republic of Cyprus.

I address an appeal to all of you to continue to supportus in our just and difficult struggle. The solution ofthe Cyprus problem within the afore-mentionedframework is in the interests of both communities, butalso of Greece, Turkey and all the peoples of our trou-bled region.”

extracts from the speech of Andros Kyprianou, Secretary General of C.C AKEL