WATER CANNOT BE SQUEEZED OUT OF STONE

In our article titled “Annan Plan—Strategy and Tactics”, which we explained the strategy and tactics of our Party in the period of Annan Plan campaign, we had finished our article as follows:

“If the Annan Plan is obtained our role in this must be acknowledged. If the Annan Plan is not obtained it must be known that there is not any error on our part for that result.

Everyone should know that water cannot be squeezed out of stone!”

The aforesaid stone is the strategy, the proposition which claims to solve the Cyprus problem by establishing a “federal Cyprus by and as a result of the negotiations between two community leaders, under the United Nations auspices, i.e., under the guarantorship of three bourgeois-imperialist countries, a federal and member of European Union Cyprus with three guarantors, with two British bases, with many English listening stations and with three foreign armies.”

In brief, this proposed solution which we may name it as the strategy of a “federal Cyprus under the auspices of United Nations and a member of European Union” is a bourgeois-imperialist solution proposal. Being as such, the proposed solution of the parties, trade-unions and their leaders are also leaders of the bourgeois-imperialist reformist parties and trade unions who have no other strategy other than carrying out this work within the framework of bourgeois-imperialist order.

Under the conditions of imperialism and bourgeois order, the solution of the relations between nations on the basis of peace, equality and liberty, on the basis of solidarity between nations is impossible. For the solution of the Cyprus problem which is a national question, breaking down the imperialist chain in Cyprus is a necessity.

The present day capitalism, that is the imperialist-capitalism, forms a chain of a world states. In order to be free, in order to solve the Cyprus problem, it is necessary to break this chain and breakaway from the world imperialist system which is the source of the problems between nations, that is the source of national problems. And further, in order to achieve this result it is necessary to end the power of the classes that tie their existence and lives to world imperialism. Thus, our proposition of the solution is based and rises on the basis of this understanding.

SOLUTION WITH A GOVERNMENT OF AKEL AND CTP

In the period prior to Annan Plan, we proposed to all left-wing parties in the north and south that propose to solve the Cyprus problem within the bourgeois-imperialist framework to come together and put their proposals on a concrete, detailed and common basis. We said let us win the elections on the basis of a policy that takes the responsibility to implement this common proposition and take power together and implement this common proposition.

Of course, sound came out of the stone, but nothing came out our parties.

The situation was the same during the Annan Plan period.

In reality this has always been the same. That is, the left-wing parties which have the bourgeois-imperialist solution proposition have never come together and thus have not united our people. And they cannot unite them. The interests of the people cannot be defended by tailing behind the bourgeois and imperialists. It cannot be united. Common decisions cannot be reached. The different and hostile conflict of interests of bourgeoisie render this impossible. Cyprus Problem cannot be solved.

Now that the two parties; AKEL and CTP, which are the largest parties among these parties are in power, everything is brought upside down.

By rejecting to form a unity of the left-wing parties and to become a left-wing power, these parties, AKEL and CTP, assume that by being part of the bourgeois governments under the present conditions, they would solve the Cyprus problem by acting together with the bourgeoisie and foreign powers.

Let them solve it. The Socialist Party of Cyprus (SPC) will not take a single step to support such a solution. The SPC will not take a single step in preventing a bourgeois-imperialist solution, as long as it is not reached through a war between imperialist powers. The cause of disagreements among bourgeois will not be shifted onto our shoulders.

SPC will not take a single step to support such an imaginary solution between two peoples, that would create hostility between two peoples if obtained by an imperialist imposition. Because it sees this so called solution efforts as unachievable.

However this basic fact is known to everyone:

They cannot and will not solve it.

We do not take sides in the conflicts between bourgeois of different nations and between the parties tailing behind bourgeois and defend our impartiality consistently, in today's Cyprus. At the same time, we expose their adaptations to imperialist impositions, that includes their seeking of support of foreign imperialists under every condition.

There cannot be a solution because AKEL and CTP agreed to. What’s more, even if their bourgeois governments which they are part of it agree, never will it mean a solution. As long as the northern and southern parts of Cyprus remain a consistent part of world imperialist system, and if and only if the big powers of the imperialist system unite and impose a solution upon the bourgeois-imperialist powers that are active in Cyprus, then that is a new imperialist imposition that would be possible. Otherwise, it will not happen.

We declare that such a solution is a bourgeois imperialist one and we expose it. We call upon our people to unite against such a solution, and unite for a solution of their own, organise and take power through elections in order to implement the anti-imperialist united front government programme. We are obliged to do this under every situation. Every moment this is not done is a moment of betrayal against the policy of the Party.

THE ONLY SOLUTION

The only way to solve the Cyprus Problem is to establish a government that will implement the Anti-Imperialist United Front Government programme of the Socialist Party of Cyprus (SPC) and the implementation of this programme with the power originating from the people, and also with the support of the peoples of other countries; the peoples of Greece, Turkey and Britain.

Our Anti-Imperialist United Front Programme

1. Annulment of all the rights and negation of all the demands of foreign powers.

2. Nationalisation without compensation of all the properties of the big bourgeoisie who, through their alliance with the above mentioned imperialist powers have betrayed the Greek and Turkish people of Cyprus.

3. Nationalisation without compensation of all the land and the properties on such land of the big land owners, including the Church and the Vaqif. Nationalisation without compensation of all the land and the properties on such land of the military bases of Turkey, Greece and England. Distribution (to use) of all these lands and properties to the Greek and Turkish people of Cyprus who have lost their personal property as a result of wars and genocides in Cyprus, to the landless peasants and homeless workers and state employees.

4. To guarantee the national rights of Cypriot people from both nationalities. The prohibition of all the organisations and activities that ferment national and religious enmities between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots and all other ethnic minorities.

5. To take all measures needed to better the living and working conditions of the workers and the labouring masses of Cyprus who shall win and preserve the anti-imperialist united front government.

6. The prohibition of establishment of organisations based on national-religious differences among the working class of Cyprus and prohibition of division of working class organisations on the basis of nationality-religion.

7. To give the right to become the citizen to all foreign and illegal workers fighting for this programme in the new Cyprus, which will be established after the victory.

8. Provision of the freedom of settlement, movement and ownership in accordance with this programme.

LET US ESTABLISH THE ANTI-IMPERIALIST UNITED FRONT ORGANISATIONS IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAMME!

LET US DEVELOP OUR LINKS WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY FORCES OF GREECE, TURKEY AND BRITAIN!

Abbreviations:

CTP — Republican Turkish Party

AKEL — The Progressive Party of the Working People

SPC — The Socialist Party of Cyprus