People's Democracy

  Fraternal Greetings Of The Communist Party of AKEL

On behalf of the central committee of AKEL, the Progressive Party of the Working People in Cyprus, I convey warm greetings to the 18th congress of the CPI(M).

Our two parties, have a long standing cooperation and friendship that is based on our common principle of independence, social justice, world peace and socialism.

In the struggle for achieving our ideals and supporting our countries independence, solidarity among the parties of the left is of particular importance. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has devoted its struggles in promoting the interest of the people of your country and has identified its role through the history of India with the fight against imperialism and the struggle for a better life. Under the modern condition of economic globalisation, your Party continues to play a significant role in organising the struggle of the people of India.

The conditions under which your congress is being held, both domestic as well as international, are difficult and complicated. Internationally, the policies of the sole power, the United States, aim in promoting their strategic, political and economic interests and goals for world dominance. The so-called "war against terror" is used as pretext for interference in the domestic affairs of other countries and for conducting the illegal war in Iraq. This war, not only has it failed to meet its proclaimed goal, that is to fight terrorism, but its has generated more violence and chaos in the country, the region and the world.

The Left parties will continue their struggle against any war, against such policies that endanger world peace, serving the economic and militaristic interests of the US and their allies. In cooperation with all the communist and progressive forces of the world and in solidarity with every people that is fighting for its alienable rights for independence and prosperity, we will continue our struggle for world peace and global justice, for the protection of human rights and human dignity, for the respect of International law and the Constitutional Charter of the UNO.

On this occasion, I would like to refer to the Cyprus problem. For more than 30 years now, almost half of the Cyprus land is being under Turkish occupation, with more than 200,000 refugees, missing people and enclaved in their own land.

The last effort to solve the political problem of the country was proved unsuccessful after the failure to find a solution on which both sides would agree. During the procedure followed by the the Secretary General of the UNO, the concerns of the Greek-Cypriots were not taken into consideration and as a result they did not accept the specific version of the Annan Plan that was eventually presented to them.

There are certain things on the Annan Plan which do not satisfy us and which we would like to change. These changes do not aim in changing the general filosophy of the Plan and the Federal solution of the problem. We want a viable and functional solution that will respect the independence of Cyprus and will guarantee its security. We do not wish to remove any rights from the Turkish Cypriots. We want a solution that will be in the interest of the Cyprus people, both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

We strongly believe that we should make use of this period in the best possible way in order to have a substantial dialogue. Unfortunately the Turkish government and the Turkish Cypriot leadership seem to focus all their efforts in upgrading the international statues of the pseudostade in the occupied areas, instead of promoting the recommencement of the negotiations procedure. But in order to restart negotiations and have substantial dialogue, Turkey should be willing and ready to discuss.

AKEL will welcome any new efforts that will aim in finding a viable and functional solution. It will continue , as it has been doing for many years, fighting against nationalism and for the rapprochement of the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. It is necessary to achieve better understanding between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. Only this will enable us to continue our common struggle for solution and reunification.

Thank you for inviting AKEL in your 18th congress. I wish you every success in your struggles for social justice, world peace and socialism in your country and the world.