Rapprochement

Rapprochement in contemporary conditions

(Programmatic Congress – February 2014)

Rapprochement is a key policy option of AKEL from 1974 onwards. It is no exaggeration to note that the policy of rapprochement helped tremendously in keeping the prospect of a solution of the Cyprus problem alive all these years, cultivating and fostering in people’s minds in both communities the need for the acceptance of diversity and peaceful coexistence in a common homeland.

The policy of rapprochement is a result of our class-based outlook for the waging of a common struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to reunify our homeland and our people, to create perspectives for common policies and struggle. The rapprochement between the two communities combats nationalism – chauvinism that has brought so much suffering and pain to our country. It fights against the ideological foundations of the extreme-right and the forces that are directly or indirectly supporting partition as a solution to the Cyprus problem.

For AKEL rapprochement is primarily a political process. By no means should rapprochement be confined just to contacts on the level of human relations, without ignoring the importance of these contacts too.

AKEL never argued that the rapprochement of the two communities alone can solve the Cyprus problem. The problem remains unsolved because of the continuing presence of occupational Turkey on our island. Without rapprochement however, it will be difficult to achieve the solution and for a federal solution to last and endure. Rapprochement cannot by itself solve the Cyprus problem, but without rapprochement there cannot be a viable solution of the Cyprus problem.

At a time when Cypriot society is becoming more conservative, when the extreme-right is raising its head, when nationalism – chauvinism are growing stronger, the strengthening of the policy of rapprochement is the only one that can keep the hope for reunification alive.

In these conditions it is imperative we:

• Combat politically and ideologically nationalism – chauvinism and cosmopolitan liberalism and to enhance the commitment to rapprochement, especially within the ranks of our Party.

• Strengthen and build the Movement of Rapprochement on a mass scale through concrete initiatives and actions.

• Forge alliances and cooperation with forces in Cypriot society who are fighting for the reunification of the country and are active in the field of rapprochement, recognizing that many times our starting points and approaches are different.

• Study and monitor developments within the Turkish Cypriot community which are changing and sometimes complex