AKEL, left wing Turkish Cypriot parties and class oriented trade unions of Cyprus in a joint visit at the European Parliament

 

 

AKEL and GUE-NGL organised a Hearing at the European
Parliament on “The Demographic structure of
Cyprus: problems and prospects”, on the 28th of
March 2012, combined with a joint visit of Greek Cypriots
and Turkish Cypriots in Brussels. Gabriele Zimmer,
President of the GUE/NGL made the opening address
stressing that the Cyprus Problem is a top priority for the
Group of Left. The keynote speech was delivered by the
General Secretary of CC AKEL, Andros Kyprianou
while interventions were made by Mehmet Seyis, President
of the Revolutionary Trade Unions Federation
(DEV-IS), Izzet Izcan, General Secretary of the Turkish
Cypriot United Cyprus Party (ΒΚP), Pambis Kyritsis,
General Secretary of the Pancyprian Federation of
Labour (PEO), Derman Saracoglu, President of the
Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy
(KTDD), Kanatli Murat, General Secretary of the Turkish
Cypriot New Cyprus Party (YKP) and Shener Elcil, General Secretary of the Turkish
Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOS).
The Hearing discussed, exposed and deplored Turkey´s continuing policy of colonisation of the occupied areas of Cyprus since the fascist coup d´etat by the military junta of Greece and its local organs and the subsequent NATO-Turkish invasion and occupation in 1974. Colonisation constitutes a war crime, a violation of International
Law aiming to impose demographic change in the occupied areas, a threat to all Cypriots – Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots stated in figures the dramatic situation in the northern part of the island. AKEL, left wing Turkish
Cypriot parties and class oriented trade unions of Cyprus issued also a joint statement:

JOINT STATEMENT

“Our joint visit to Brussels is another example of our resolve for joint
action by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. Our common struggle
shows the path for our country’s future and stems from the cooperation
in the past between the two communities and the people. It stems from
the need for a free, united, federal and independent Cyprus. Maintaining
their autonomy, the participants announce the following:
-The solution of the Cyprus problem is of primary importance.
Partition is not tolerated, nor accepted. It will have devastating
consequences for Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean region.
– The solution of the Cyprus problem is a matter for all Cypriots,
and will be solved without foreign interference. It will be to the benefit
of the legal inhabitants of this island, and will promote the
peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the two communities,
the progress and prosperity of our country.
– The reunification of our country must exclude secession and Enosis.
– The solution of the Cyprus problem will be based on a bizonal
and bicommunal federal state based on the resolutions of the UN,
where relations between the two communities will be on the basis
of political equality, as set out in the resolutions of the international
Organization. The High Level Agreements of 1977 and
1979 and the Joint Statements of May and July 2008 complement
the framework of the solution.
The alteration of the demographic structure of the island imposed by
outside, which suppresses the political, legal and labour rights of both
communities and of our people as a whole, is not acceptable. Our Parties
and Organizations are committed to continue and intensify their struggle
for the promotion of the above objectives”.
AKEL
Turkish Cypriot United Cyprus Party – ΒΚP
Turkish Cypriot New Cyprus Party – YKP
Pancyprian Federation of Labour – PEO
Revolutionary Trade Unions Federation – DEV-IS
Turkish Cypriot Association for Democracy – KTDD
Turkish Cypriot Primary School Teachers Trade Union -KTOS