On behalf of the C.C. of AKEL I address a warm greeting to the 19th Congress of EDON. I am certain that the deliberations and work that has been done will yield significant results; results that you will use to the benefit of the young generation of our country.
We have said many times that EDON makes us and the People’s Movement of the Left proud. Why?
We are proud because EDON puts young people on the path of struggle for the noblest ideals that humanity has given birth to; because EDON is the militant voice that stands up and opposes neo-fascism, racism and nationalism; the thousands of youthful hearts struggling for the reunification of our homeland; the force that gets young people involved and active countering apathy and guiding them in the small and big struggles for their own future. We are proud of EDON because at every small and big event, from voluntary campaigns organized to clean up a park in some local neighborhood up to the organization of a Pancyprian Festival of Youth and Students, it reminds us that there is hope. And this hope is EDON!
We need this hope for a better future because our region is plagued by tensions and conflicts; because our times generate complex and difficult problems; because the deadlocks are growing. We need this hope because the policies being imposed across Europe and Cyprus have filled the future of the young generation with deadlocks.
In Cyprus, the results of these policies are depressing. Six years of the Anastasiades-DISY administration in Cyprus have loaded on young people’s backs burdens that do not permit them to move forward.
According to a report released by the European Statistical Office, 27.7% of young people in Cyprus, that is to say 51,000 young people, are at risk of poverty and social exclusion.
Thirty thousand young people face serious material deprivation, while 76.7% are forced to live with their parents because they don’t have the economic capability to live on their own.
Almost a third of young people in Cyprus cannot pay their bills and installments, cannot afford to go on a week’s vacation and cannot meet their basic essential needs or address emergency expenses.
72.5% of unemployed young people aged 25-34 cannot find a job even though they are graduates of tertiary education.
The proportion of young people aged between 25 and 34 living with their parents has increased from 27.3% to 33.7% in just two years.
These are all the result of Anastasiades’ policies and the ruling class of the European Union.
Lately, the governing ruling forces have been parading in front of TV cameras informing us about the growth being recorded and about the surplus they are achieved. The economy is indeed growing. But this growth is accompanied by inequalities that are also growing. There is indeed growth.
But where does this growth stem from and who benefits from it?
The casino and passport economy generates profits for the privileged few, a “get rich quick” economy and “bubble” phenomena for society. It’s the privileged few that are benefiting from this growth, while the majority see their labour being deregulated and their salaries and wages remaining curbed.
Recently the Cyprus Labour Institute (INEK) of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour released their annual Report on the Economy and Employment. All the findings of the Report confirm what we have been saying for a long time.
First: yes, there is growth and there are profits, but all the indexes illustrate that profits are being distributed to the detriment of labour and in favour of capital.
Second: yes, the unemployment rate has fallen, but increases in real wages are minimal, next to nothing.
Thirdly, unlike all previous years, the situation of working people is disconnected from the economic growth recorded, given that wages and the income share of labour are not in line GDP growth.
Does all this concern the school pupil, student and the young person who just wants to find a job? The answer is undeniably yes it does.
It concerns school pupils as it affects their education and health because it concerns his/her parents who have to do everything possible so that, for example, they can pay tuition classes to sit exams every four months, the final exams, to pay for their clothes, recreation and leisure and hobby needs.
It concerns the student who has seen the Student Care scheme curbed, who cannot study if he/she can’t pay private universities’ tuition fees, who cannot afford the rent of an apartment because of the absurd increases in rent, who cannot even buy a used car because he/she fear the cost of car license fees.
It concerns young people who cannot begin to build their life because the banks don’t give loans, rents are soaring high and wages are rock bottom. It concerns young people because even though they may have a degree and a postgraduate degree they work for a thousand euros a month, work on Sundays, find work for half a day with half the wages, work without social insurance, health and medical care and welfare.
In the face of all these deadlocks a large section of young people believes that nothing can change. It has given up hope, unfortunately, capitulating to the slogan that “everyone is the same.” We will not tire in saying that “not everyone is the same.” We will devote all our energies to prove that “not everyone is the same.”
AKEL has very clear political positions promoting young people’s rights. It takes political initiatives for young people, both inside and outside the Parliament and is struggling to support their assertions. If one makes the effort to see, for example, what each Party tables in the House of Representatives and what positions each party supports all issuing affecting young people, he/she will realize that the Party of the young generation is AKEL.
Let’s take labour issues. Not everyone is the same.
During the Christofias government, a relevant bill was passed in Parliament for the institutional and legislative safeguarding of the application of collective agreements and the possibility of extending them to the entire economic sector. The Anastasiades government withdrew this bill. It was again tabled by AKEL as a draft bill. The competent Ministry, the Employers’ Associations OEV and KEVE are against it. As the discussions in the relevant Parliamentary Commission have demonstrated, neither do the other parties agree.
The legislative enactment of minimum binding terms and conditions of employment, such as the need for a minimum salary for newly hired employees, the provision of the 13th month salary payment, overtime compensation and the establishment of compulsory holidays for those workers not covered by a collective agreement, represent AKEL’s long standing policy, which the other Parties do not seem to share, even more so the Anastasiades Government. Needless to say let me remind young people about the struggles we have waged inside the House of Representatives on the issue of working hours in shops, but also about our repeated appeals we issued and the proposals we submitted with regards the need for the government to elaborate plans to provide support to and care of infants, minors and children, especially for families on low incomes.
We are not all the same.
AKEL is the Party that has tabled the draft bill to provide more protection for working people who are absent from work due to disability, and especially for serious health reasons. AKEL is the Party that tabled the bill to improve the legislation on child benefits. AKEL is the Party that has tabled proposals to improve legislation on the Minimum Guaranteed Income. AKEL is the party that has tabled a draft bill so that the Special Needs Fund for People with Disabilities won’t be abolished – on the contrary that it should be supported by the state budget with a similar amount so that the emergency needs of people with disabilities are covered. AKEL is the Party that has tabled legislative proposals to support every mother. AKEL is the Party that succeeded in an amendment being passed in the 2019 State Budget for the provision of student grants that are being curbed increasingly every year by the Anastasiades government. AKEL is the Party taking initiatives to promote, for example, family policy measures to provide support to young couples on low incomes and state investment in social protection infrastructures and support for local government to implement social policies at a local level and much more.
We are not all the same.
AKEL is the Party – the only Party – that elaborated and submitted a comprehensive study on Special Education with specific proposals for its improvement and promotion. AKEL is the Party that has tabled a draft bill for the abolition of the four-month exam system; the Party which is struggling on the side of the teachers on contracts; the Party which is raising in the House of Representatives urgently the issue of the upgrading and expansion of Technical Schools, the pressing need for investment to be channeled in research and innovation. AKEL is the only Party which struggled for a ceiling to be put on private universities’ fees and briefed from the very beginning students about the total cost of their studies. AKEL is the only Party that raised the issue of the fairer distribution of the funds allocated to provide support for artistic and amateur cultural creation.
We are not all the same.
AKEL is the Party that is working with consistency, steadfastness and seriousness for the main issue that concerns the future of the coming generations of Cyprus: the reunification of our homeland and people.
History will judge Mr. Anastasiades very strictly. Firstly, because he did not resolutely oppose and combat nationalism, chauvinism and neo-fascism. We had serious and continuous outbreaks of neo-fascism and racism in schools and in society lately. There hasn’t been any reaction whatsoever from the President, who, as he confessed, believes that rapprochement and the cultivation of a culture of co-existence with the Turkish Cypriots is confined to having a drink with Akinci.
History will judge both Mr. Anastasiades, DISY and all those who since 2011 prepared the ground for the rise of the far right very strictly because back then the far-right served their interests in their destructive campaign against AKEL and D. Christofias. That’s why no one should be surprised by the outbreaks of nationalism and racism, by the attacks on Turkish Cypriots and the rise of neo-fascism. They were appeasing the monster so that it could do favours for them back then. Today they are caressing it to calm it down and don’t realize how much damage is being done to society. To combat neo-fascism consistency and determination are demanded, as well as very clear positions and not statements that are motivated by pre-election considerations and characterized by hypocrisy.
Big talk, patriotic rhetoric and patriotic sloganeering. In reality, however, in practice the barbed wire dividing our country directly threatens the future of the young generation.
What are the real options before us? Should we take up arms and start a war?
In 1974, the so-called “national-minded” forces inflamed young people’s minds about “victories that the Nation would bring”. The result was that their actions led half of Cyprus to disaster and the other half full of refugees uprooted from their homes.
The invasion, occupation and ongoing colonization of the occupied territories directly threaten the survival of the Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, on the land that gave birth to them. The current situation is a slowly-ticking bomb placed at the very foundations of our homeland. Turkey maintains an occupying army in Cyprus with a force of up to 30,000 soldiers. Its military presence enables it to exercise control over the Turkish Cypriot community. The mass and uncontrolled colonization is threatening the identity and survival of everyone in the land that gave birth to us.
So how can this problem be solved?
It can only be solved by reversing the partitionist status quo and by solving the Cyprus problem with a solution acceptable to both communities that will lead to a lasting and stable peace. A solution that will reunite the island on the basis of the agreed framework and lead to a permanent and viable peace; that will create conditions of prosperity for all. That is and must remain the common goal of the struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Unfortunately, the current situation does not create optimism that we are even close to achieving this goal. Mr. Anastasiades inherited the Cyprus problem from D. Christofias who had achieved joint communiqués safeguarding our side’s long-standing positions, with many issues agreed and recorded as convergences, with the chapter of energy a huge prospect and the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus secured, with the international community acknowledging that our side was one step ahead in its readiness to solve the problem. What did Mr. Anastasiades himself do and at what phase has he led the Cyprus problem at?
Yes, it is a fact that the primary responsibility for the continuation of the de facto partition lies with Turkey, due to the intransigent positions it supports, its aggressive policy and provocative actions. This does not exonerate and relieve Mr. Anastasiades of the mistakes and amateur handlings that have been made. Recent examples include the Mont Peleran and Crans Montana conferences. What has subsequently followed isn’t any better. Mr. Anastasiades’ contradictions and regressions, which he himself characterized as his right to reflect on, have put the possibility of a two-state solution on the table.
Developments today aren’t just critical – they are decisive. Now is the time to say what is really going on and by their true name.
Either the Cyprus problem will be solved through an honorable compromise that will reunite our country and people, or we will open the door to the nightmare scenario of partition.
Either we will vindicate the common struggles we have waged Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to be the masters in our country, or we will be handing half of our homeland and forfeiting the other half to foreign interests.
AKEL faced and is still came under an enormous attack because of our steadfast and consistent position on the Cyprus problem. Firstly, when certain forces and circles were speaking about a supposed common path pursued by governing DISY and AKEL, because Mr. Anastasiades was forced by developments themselves to follow our positions and adopt our proposals. When Mr. Anastasiades subsequently took other decisions and abandoned what he was saying, AKEL was accused of supporting “submissive positions” and proposals leading to “any solution”. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
These are tactics they employ, ever since the time the late historical leader of AKEL Ezekias Papaioannou wrote that he didn’t believe any other political leader had been slandered and attacked so much in Cyprus as himself because of the political positions he defended as the General Secretary of AKEL. The attack AKEL came under back then became a ferocious and destructive war when Demetris Christofias was elected President of the Republic of Cyprus because he dared to put in the public debate and on the table of the talks positions abolishing ethnic confrontation and which had as their cornerstone the common homeland, the common state, the common life of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots; because he was bold enough to promote policies that challenged the interests of the establishment on our island. We should all know that is their position towards us, given that our policies and positions threaten their interests. We must steeled and united in order to resolutely combat them.
We insist and reiterate the same positions today that we supported back then, not out of any stubbornness, nor out of any “obsession” as certain forces and circles accuse us of, but because at the heart of the positions and proposals that were submitted is the timeless truth which Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together have served over decades of struggles and sacrifices: A Cyprus that belongs to its people, that will be living together and not side by side. This is our vision for Cyprus. We serve this vision, believe in it and assert it. This is because we have at the centre of our attention everything that really threatens the future of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus: Ankara’s policies that are seeking to incorporate and assimilate the Turkish Cypriot community. This is precisely why we do not forget to constantly underline the great efforts being made by the Turkish Cypriot progressive forces to protect the Turkish Cypriot community, its identity and character.
We are a voice that is struggling for the whole of Cyprus. We insist and shall continue to insist that the Turkish Cypriot, just like the Greek Cypriot community, will neutralize once and for all whatever threatens their survival only when they manage to live together within the framework of a bizonal, bicommunal federation. Only when they again begin laying the foundations of a common life and the waging of common social and political action within the framework of a reunified state which shall be a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality, ensuring that the two communities shall be living and working together for their common future. With political equality as provided for in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and free form any guarantee and intervention rights.
It is true that our era is difficult and demanding. It is true that our Party and the People’s Movement of the Left have a hard struggle ahead of us, a path of struggle that never ends. EDON is also at the forefront of this struggle. It is true that the militants and members of EDON are waging a very difficult struggle against impoverishment, neo-fascism and against a rotten system that is old, but refuses to die. But this struggle is the most beautiful of all.
As the poet wrote, we haven’t lived the most beautiful days yet. You are all the most beautiful days. It is the dawn of your own struggle, it is the dawn of EDON’s struggle for peace and social justice, for progress and socialism!
Every success in your struggles!
Speech by the General Secretary of the Central Council of EDON Christos Christofias to the 19th Pancyprian Congress of EDON
Nicosia Conference Centre, Friday, 4th January 2019
Comrade General Secretary of the Central Committee of AKEL Andros Kyprianou,
Comrade, former President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetri Christofia,
Your Excellences Ambassadors,
Comrades, members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of AKEL,
Comrades, Leaders of the mass Organizations of the Left,
Comrades and friends Members of Parliament,
Dear Mayors friends and comrades,
Dear friend and President of the Council of the Youth Organization of Cyprus,
Dear friends and representatives of Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot Youth political organizations,
Dear guests,
Dear friends and comrades,
On behalf of the Central Council of EDON, we welcome you all to the opening of the 19th Pancyprian Congress of EDON. We wish everyone a creative and productive New Year. May 2019 be the year of peace, liberation and reunification of Cyprus; the year of social justice, prosperity and progress for the whole world.
We particularly welcome our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. Their presence at the Congress reaffirms that we have never stopped the common struggle for our common goals, for peace and reunification.
We also welcome and thank from the bottom of our hearts the representatives of fraternal youth organizations from abroad for accepting our invitation to attend our Congress and who have honoured us by travelling to Cyprus from Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Europe.
We have the great honor of holding the Presidency of the World Federation of Democratic Youth for the past seven years. We salute its millions of members through the presence here of our comrade Iakovos Tofaris, the President of WFDY. We pledge that we will do our upmost for the remainder of our term to strengthen the international anti-imperialist struggle of youth.
Comrades,
EDON, the biggest mass democratic youth organization in Cyprus is present in the struggles being waged. The militant youth of our country have gathered here in our Congress. We welcome the hundreds of Congress delegates from all over the island who were elected after dozens of local EDON general assemblies to represent our thousands of members. Let us discuss, exchange thoughts and set our goals for the next three years. Let’s democratically elect our new collective leadership. This is EDON because when we talk about democracy, we mean it. When we talk about collective work, we translate our words into actions.
Dear friends,
The global crisis of the capitalist system leaves behind the scourges of the full-scale attack unleashed by capital against the peoples. Our assessments that through the crises, the ruling class finds the best opportunity to redistribute wealth for its own benefit has once again been vindicated. That’s precisely why last year we had the biggest increase in the number of billionaires in history. That is why the rate of growth in workers’ income internationally is about 2%, whereas at the same time billionaires’ income growth rose by 13%. About 43% of young people regardless if they are working or not are living in conditions of poverty. More than 500 million young people live today on less than $ 2 a day. In developing countries, more than 260 million young people, and one in three young women live without work and education. And although the consequences of the crisis are various and different, there is a common characteristic everywhere: young people have been the ones who are affected the most by the crisis.
The tools given to us by the classics of our ideology, namely Marxism – Leninism, help us to understand how and why our societies are being driven from bad to worse. Capitalism, at its highest stage, that is to say imperialism, inevitably leads to an increase in social inequalities, to an increase in the competition for the control of energy sources, to new hotbeds of war and disaster. The dominant neo-liberal policies, which serve capital’s need to increase its profits excellently, are part of this imposition.
The European Union, is steadily proceeding towards the institutionalisation of neoliberalism. The deregulation of labour relations, the dismantling of the welfare state, the selloff of public wealth and property and the imposition of anti-social policies are high on its agenda. The widening of the gap between the rich and the poor is taking place as the official policy of this advanced organization of capitalist integration. The European Union’s drive to maximise the profits of the multinationals and monopolies and to redistribute wealth through the crisis renders the peoples as the sole victims. Within this context, human rights, individual and collective freedoms, people’s privacy are all being curbed.
The European Union is increasingly becoming more and more militarized by adapting its foreign policy objectives in full engagement with those of NATO. The implementation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (known as PESCO) and the approval of many billions of euros for investment in the arms and war industry are moving precisely in that very context. At the same time, interventions in the internal affairs of other countries, particularly of the Middle East, are continuing unabated, and together with NATO, they are both to blame for creating the vast refugee current in recent years.
This orientation is not accidental. It has to do with the intensification of the competition for the control of the rich energy resources and markets. The enlargement of NATO to the east, the US-inspired plan for a “New Middle East”, the EU’s penetration in Eastern Europe and the plans for the geopolitical encirclement of Russia and China respectively, reveal the intentions of the imperialist centres.
For the imperialists the wider region of the south eastern Mediterranean holds the greatest interest, due to its geostrategic position, the control of energy and commercial routes, as well as the concentration of large energy deposits.
In the face of this terrible and tragic situation that compose the system and form the current balance of forces, there is only one weapon at the disposal of the peoples and youth – International solidarity. How long will the peoples be killed for the interests of the ruling class? From the podium of this Congress, we once again declare that we stand by the side of all struggling and suffering peoples. We stand on the side of the peoples of Latin America against the blatant interventions in the internal affairs of their countries, as well as on the side of the peoples of Asia; on the side of the peoples of Africa against hunger and conflicts; on the side of the peoples of Europe against austerity and poverty. We also extend our solidarity to the Middle East that continues to be up in flames. Through our actions, we give strength to those who struggle and draw examples from struggles, such as those of socialist Cuba, and defiant and unyielding Palestine.
We are creating the resistance which we need in an international environment that persecutes Communist, anti-imperialist, anti-fascist parties and strengthens neo-fascist, nationalist and racist formations. In various countries, our comrades and co-fighters are being persecuted. This is happening because we are the only ones who truly challenge the power of capital. On the other hand, the ruling class through its policies, mass media and wars, even through the funding it provides, is strengthening neo-fascism that is now participating in parliaments and governments. Anti-communism is being transformed into official state policy, while nationalism and fascism are considered as “another point of view within democracy”. Brecht wrote about what is taking place now after the end of the Second World War, “Don’t rejoice that you have killed the beast in his defeat, you men! Although the world stood up and stopped the bastard, the nightmare that gave birth to it is again fermenting.” That’s what happened. Fascism is again threatening the future of humanity.
In confronting all types of populists and demagogues like Trump, Bolsonaro, Le Pen, Salvini, Orban, Mihaloliakos and others who sow hate, we project our struggles; struggles against imperialism, war and neo-fascism; struggles in favour of the friendship of the peoples, for Peace and International Disarmament. We project organized struggle, which builds bastions of resistance to fascism. We project class struggle, with which the peoples will once again emerge at the forefront to parade in the avenues of the future. The future that is certain, but one that will not come by itself if we ourselves do not take measures as well, as the Poet wrote.
Friends and comrades,
In such an international environment, one would have expected the government of a semi-occupied country that is waging a struggle for survival to adhere to solid principles in its foreign policy. Nevertheless, the Anastasiades-DISY government, clinging to its ideological obsessions, is resurrecting the “We belong to the West” slogan, despite its declarations to the contrary. It is strengthening its military co-operation with the United States, integrating the Republic of Cyprus into PESCO and undermining long-standing relations with traditionally friendly countries. It is even opening issues in relation to the solution of the Cyprus problem being sought, about a possible involvement of NATO. For us, any provision in the solution of the Cyprus problem for NATO guarantees is unacceptable. We repeat our timeless opposition to any attempt for Cyprus’ accession to NATO or its branches, such as the so-called ‘Partnership for Peace’.
Since our previous Congress, a lot has changed in relation to the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. The 19th EDON Congress is being held at a very critical period for our country’s future. When Mustafa Akıncı assumed in 2015 the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot Community, who decided to put an end to Eroglu’s policy and stated that he would proceed with the Christofias-Talat convergences, Mr. Anastasiades basically followed. Progress was subsequently recorded in the talks, even though with reciprocal regressions.
Through the progress recorded at the negotiations we reached an intensification of the effort at Mont Pèleran, Geneva and we arrived at the Crans Montana Conference. Our sole concern as the Left throughout the Crans Montana Conference in the summer of 2017 was to support as much as we could a decisive step forward to be taken, opening up the prospect of a solution.
The collapse of the negotiations at Crans Montana led the Cyprus problem into a dangerous stalemate. Turkey’s illegal and provocative actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, the negative statements made by the Turkish Cypriot leadership, as well as the report submitted by the Secretary General of the UN subsequently followed; a Report which relieved Turkey of responsibility and apportioned the responsibility for the collapse of the negotiations on both sides.
The situation today can only be described as extremely critical. That is why Mr. Anastasiades must very clearly declare his support for the resumption of the negotiations without terms and preconditions. He should make a constructive contribution to the successful agreement of “the terms of reference”; work to continue the negotiations from the point they had remained and on the basis of the Secretary-General’s Framework. If the Turkish side responds positively, then we will have a continuation of the negotiations. If not, then the responsibility for any failure should be assigned on the Turkish side and it will remain exposed to the international community.
We will continue to struggle with all our forces for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of the United Nations and on the basis of the UN resolutions and the 1977 and 1979 High-Level Agreements, providing for a bizonal, bicommunal federation.
For a united state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality.
For a solution that will be in line with International Law, international human rights conventions and European law.
For a solution that provides for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation troops and settlers and the demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus.
The ultimate goal remains the full demilitarization of our island, with the dissolution of the British bases, a goal that will be realised through the common anti-imperialist struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
For a solution that will restore the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, without giving any rights of intervention to any foreign country. For the safeguarding of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, including the right of return to the refugees to their homes and properties.
We support with consistency the political equality of the two communities within the federation, as this has been defined in the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and which means effective participation in decision-making centres. We disagree with the novel and dangerous positions about a “loose federation”, “enlarged talks” and “negotiations from scratch”. These positions serve foreign interests and lead to the same end result: partition.
We, the young people of this country, are struggling intensely for what our future will be here. That is why we will not stop struggling to reverse the path to partition – either in an agreed manner or gradually through the passage of time without the achievement of a solution.
Partition is a disaster for our homeland and people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Partition means borders with Turkey, with bad neighbourly relations.
Partition will mean we will lose 40% of the land and 60% of our coastline forever, as well as the EEZ which President Anastasiades seems to have already granted through his statements.
Partition will mean uncertainty and insecurity for the future generations, given that the danger will always remain likely that Turkey will covet the rest of Cyprus as well.
This is the dilemma facing us today. That was the dilemma all through these years: Federation or partition.
All those forces and circles who are accussing us of supporting any solution, who more or less call us traitors who want to sell Cyprus off to Turkey, should themselves make their self-criticism first. They should reflect on who are the ones that have moved from their position dozens of times in recent decades, and who are the ones who have remained consistent to the agreed basis of the solution.
We will not give in and yield. We shall continue to struggle by all means together with our Turkish Cypriot compatriots to be free from the occupation and for the reunification of our country and people. We know that what unites us is much more than what separates us. We know that a future of peace cannot be prevented, if we struggle to the very end. With marches, mobilizations, political gatherings, cultural events, exchanges of experiences and joint actions between the youth of the two communities, we break the chains of division.
That’s the only way the advocates of partition, the nationalists and neo-fascists on both sides of the barbed wire of division fear us. They fear mass and united struggles. As young people, we need as never ever before to give a reply to nationalism which is once more rearing its head. We must isolate and crush it. If we allow it to do harm again, this time the danger is that the damage will be irreparable.
Let’s make the barbed wire of division that separates us, an exhibit that the future generations will see in museums as a memory of a bygone age that has gone unremittingly.
The Right and the so-called political spectrum of the centre are also responsible for the rise of the ultra-right. They shouldn’t pretend to be shocked every time society encounters neo-fascist phenomena. Every time they engage in outbursts of pseudo-patriotic statements, they feed the monster. Every time DISY honors Grivas and those who participated in the coup d’état, it gives life to chauvinism. Every time they support nationalist slogans in school student associations and student councils, they are strengthening the nationalist organizations that still dream of Enosis (the Union of Cyprus with Greece). It is no accident that there is a rise of nationalism – chauvinism in recent years. There are morally responsible forces who are arming the hand of every fascist who attacks Turkish Cypriot cars, handing jackets “only to Greek children”, who torture an African immigrant taking his teeth out with a plyer, who are vandalizing our offices and writing hate slogans on the street walls.
We have denounced the schizophrenic attitude of the Greek Cypriot Right for some years. They cannot invoke the patriotism of all of us calling for the formation of a united domestic front, while at the same time continuing to nurture and educate their youth with the ideals of Grivas; at the same time as their leadership is consumed in supposedly rapprochement actions, their own youth are organizing fiestas with Enosis symbols from the past. They can’t at the same time as their leader is negotiating at the talks their own future, be supporting the provocative proposal submitted by ultra-right ELAM party in Parliament for celebrations in schools for the Enosis referendum.
Who is responsible that we have reached the point that it is normal to see the walls of our streets filled with swastikas and other Nazi symbols?
Who is responsible for the increasingly frequent threatening phone calls to EDON militants from fanatic neo-fascists?
Who is responsible for the attacks waged against our members in schools?
How did we get to the point where a representative of a nationalist student faction openly and officially stated from a student’s assembly that in the event of a war, he will first turn his weapons against his communist compatriots and then against the enemy?
Comrades,
We don’t fear anything and no one. The historical truth is there and shining like a star that guides us. In the face of the falsification and distortion of history, we project the heroes of EDON who sacrificed their lives defending freedom and democracy. Against the hatred being spread by fascism, we cultivate the friendship and unity of our people, but also with the peoples of the whole world. Confronting the nationalist pseudo-bravado, we project the strength of organized struggle, mass involvement and collectivity. Even if we do not agree on all issues, we call upon every democratic young person, to fight with us against fascism. Every young person who wants to be called a human being has a position in the antifascist front of youth. We must stop them before it’s too late.as we had pointed out
Dear friends,
Today we are living in the post-Memorandum era which has anything but come to an end. With the re-election of Anastasiades-DISY, the government and ruling forces are seeking to carry through and fulfill all their plans. The image portrayed of an economic recovery, as presented by the government, cannot change the deterioration of the social conditions in our country. Exactly the opposite is true: officially Cyprus has exited the Memorandum, but we have not escaped from the anti-social policies and austerity.
Over the last six years, this government’s anti-social policy has led to the closure of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises, to a very sharp increase in unemployment especially among young people. It has also led to an increase in young people migrating, to cuts in wages, pensions and benefits. It has led to the impoverishment of the Cypriot people, the dismantling of our society, to widening of the gap between the few rich and the many poor, as a result of which Cyprus tops the relevant tables across Europe.
All these problems create huge dead ends for young people. However, the worst of all is that the economic policy pursued by Mr Anastasiades’ government does not create any prospects whatsoever for the young generation, because it simply has no vision. It merely pursues a ‘get rich quick’ philosophy. It bases its policy on a short-sighted approach for a casino economy, on the policy of selling passports and the completely illogical and unplanned construction of numerous luxurious projects and developments. This approach has resulted in a sharp increase in rents and the price of purchasing a house, with young people again the first victims. Particularly in Limassol, and the whole of the free areas of Cyprus, the level of prices for housing is such that the young generation of uninsured labour, on low wages and working in flexible forms of employment, cannot under any circumstances have hope to acquire its own home. As if these problems were not enough, there is no state policy to provide support to young couples, no house allowances or any social welfare schemes. Despite the huge problem that exists and even though we have reached a point that there are now homeless people in a small country such as Cyprus, the government is still not implementing the Single Housing Scheme.
Unfortunately, the government’s socio-economic policies, which are against the majority of the people, will become even more intense. For example, the deregulation of labour relations, the selloff of the Cyprus Cooperative Bank, the privatization and closure of semi-governmental organizations, the foreclosures of homes, the reactionary changes in Education, the dismantling of the Public Health system, the scheming and plans for the selling off the sector to private interests and many others, are forcing the majority of the people to struggle to survive and make ends meet.
With the policies being pursued, they are promoting a school that doesn’t provide an all-round education, but instead destroys education. For the government and ruling forces their vision of education means exams every semester, private tuition lessons and ends in the supression of democratic functioning and expression. With the new rules of operation that the government is seeking to apply in the new school year, we are increasingly heading towards an inhumane and undemocratic school.
With their policies, more and more students are being forced to stop their studies. They have cut the Student Care scheme and reduced funds/expenditure by many millions of euros the studentgrant. For that reason, students from working class backgrounds, with the cost of studying extremely high (books, materials, rent, fuel and others) and without any state support whatsoever, are the victims of the indifference of the government and ruling forces in tertiary education as well.
With their policies, they have made a large section of society consider young people as the lost generation. The fact that unemployment has been reduced doesn’t tell the whole truth. The reality is that young people today are working endless hours for next to nothing. It is unprotected due to personal contracts on low wages, without having the right to get organized in trade unions and assert improvements in their terms of employment. This generation is the generation which is experiencing in all its magnitude acute capitalist exploitation.
Comrades,
The new generation of this country is entitled and deserves much more than what the Anastasiades government is preparing. With the upgrading of technological development and of the productive forces, the young generation can and must conquer its future, so long as we organize our struggle. A class, mass and coordinated struggle cannot but be victorious. We have to conduct political work everywhere so that the voice of EDON reaches every school, university, work place and youth recreation and leisure area. Young people should come into contact with our proposals on all issues that affect and concern them, joining us in our difficult but wonderful struggle.
How long will the youth of this country tolerate the acute unequal and exploitative society we live in?
How long will youth tolerate fatalistically the anti-social policies of the government and ruling forces?
How long will we allow our lives to be at the mercy of the lust of capital and the employers?
The deeply class character of the problems affecting all levels of life cannot and will not be the future of the young people of Cyprus: the complete lack of meritocracy, cronyism, culture viewed as secondary marginal need, the authoritarian ‘Football ID card’ law, drugs, social deadlocks, the destruction of the environment, racism and discriminations, local authorities abandoned by the state, gender inequality and many others.
If we become aware of the power in our hands this will not be our future. If we transform our will for change into organized struggle and daily action.
We are the bearers of social change. Regardless of any temporary defeats we may face, the final victory will come, even though it isn’t imminent!
Dear friends,
EDON is the broad, mass political and cultural organization of the youth, embracing with its action every young person that doesn’t compromise with exploitation and injustice, the occupation and division of our homeland.
It embrace every young person that is moved by the plight of the millions of refugees, who is outraged by the ongoing imperialist wars, who wants to fight for peace and friendship between the peoples of the world.
It embraces every person who does not succumb to the prevailing subculture and is searching for the truth through cultural values and aesthetics, which turn darkness into light. Any young person that resents this reality and reacts and struggle against it can join the ranks of EDON.
This is EDON, bon of the need and the mature child of rage. Throughout the 75 year path of struggle of AON – EDON, we have experienced many difficulties: Illegality, persecution, assassinations and murders, assaults, lies, slander, indifference and apathy. Each time we went through difficult times, the just cause of our struggle lifted us. That’s the case today too
At our previous Congresses, we concluded that the all-attack launched against the Left and the People’s Movement, as well as the depoliticization and deprecation being promoted systematically, has contributed decisively to the temporary weakening of our organizational strength. The goal of the previous 18th Congress in relation to Organizational Development and Mass Growth has not been achieved so far, given that the organisational weakness we faced during the 3 year period 2013-2016 led in a rolling effect to the transfer of problems from Department to Department. Despite all this, today we have stabilised the organisational level of our members since 2016 until today at the 19th Congress.
The basis of EDON’s structure is the Local Organization. Depending on whether we succeed in maintain local organizations with an active presence, with our broad contact with young people in local neighborhoods, schools and universities we manage to renew and replenish our strength. Our goal is for our Local Organizations to develop such significant actions that would meet the most burning needs and concerns of the young generation in a way that would enable us to represent a pole of attraction for a young person to get involved in one of these organizations. It’s through such actions that we shall manage to involve as many of our members possible each time. Through our initiatives, disposition and enthusiasm to implement a plan of broad activity our Organisation’s militants can do great things. By improving our cooperation with the Local Clubs and mass organizations of the People’s Movement of the Left, and above all with our Party, AKEL, we can and must realise what we envision.
The nature and character of EDON makes frequent renewal imperative which is the reason why the long-term planning of renewal and strengthening of our guiding bodies with new militants, as well of our local organisations, is required. The involvement of young people in the Organization’s daily activity and the engagement in the arena of struggle to assert solutions to problems are prerequisites for creating the objective basis on which we can support the policy of promoting militants. We want volunteer militants who can achieve even more than what the Organization is proud to present with the Pancyprian Festival each summer, with the thousands of local, regional, provincial and Pancyprian events, the anti-occupation and anti-imperialist demonstrations, the anti-fascist actions, our summer camps, trade union assertions and many more. The goal of every member of EDON must be to deliver to the next generations a bigger and more active Organization than it has bequeathed from the previous generations.
The rotten world that has been decaying is now revving. That’s why, our Provincial Organizations and every and every EDON militant deserve warm congratulations, who in these very hostile conditions is standing firm shoulder to shoulder with his/her comrades; who is dialectically combining theory with practice; who is studying, self-educating himself/herself and understands that organizational and ideological-educational work are inextricably linked; who doesn’t give up; who doesn’t compromise with difficulties. We are proud of these militants and our members; proud that we remain clear unblemished in the immorality that surrounds us; proud that we remain steadfast despite the fatalism and compromise that is being cultivated.
Comrades,
The Pancyprian Children’s Movement of EDON, through its multifaceted activities, aims to educate children with the ideals of democracy, equality, peace and social justice. It aims at cultivating the feeling of solidarity and friendship among the peoples of the world. We must continue to set among our priorities the mass growth of our children’s movement. This will be achieved through the enrichment of its activities, but mainly through the better cooperation with our Local Clubs of the mass organizations of the Left and the wider People’s Movement, as well as through the development of actions that should address and have an impact on local communities.
Today, we face our greatest difficulties in the School Student Department. Together with our school student militants, a greater intensity to try to overcome the obstacles that lie ahead of us, mainly the depreciation being promoted towards political engagement. We must continue the very good work being done in various Local Organizations and schools. We must do everything possible to get better organised in many other local organizations, since this is now a historical necessity and prority. The School Student’s Department is the future of our Organization and that is why we must address the problems and deal with them before it is too late. The School Student’s mass organization of PEOM in schools should intensify its effort in the Central School Student Councils, the District and Pancyprian Committees of School Students (ESEM and PSEM respectively) for the school that we are envisioning.
As far as EDON’s Students Department is concerned, we have in very adverse conditions managed to stabilize the number of our members and electoral strength. However, a lot of work to achieve the desired results is required that will enable us to achieve the sought quantitative growth in the future. Through our broad actions in student areas and ‘Proodeftiki’ student movement organization, we must become even more assertive by strengthening Student Unions and the Pancyprian Federation of Student Unions (POFEN).
As to the Young Workers Department, Local Organizations have stabilized their number of members, despite all the problems they faced after the 18th Congress. It seems that there is still some way towards achieving our goals for the Departments intervention in local self-government and society in general. The Deprtment is taking initiatives and conducting campaigns, however there is much room for improvement. The further involvement of young workers in the Organization’s everyday life and activity remains the sought goal, given that such a development will add to District Organizations’ actions.
Our monthly newspaper “Youth” (NEOLAIA) is our weapon and steady guide. EDON remains the only political youth organization that publishes a newspaper on a regular basis that addresses young people exclusively. Our fundamental duty remains that our newspaper should be embraced first and foremost by all our members. This will greatly contribute to our efforts to strengthen our educational work, given that in our newspaper there is a commendable effort with texts of a political, ideological, historical and cultural content that isn’t found elsewhere.
Dear friends and comrades,
Our principal task is to convince young people that there is an alternative and that they themselves have the power to open up the path. The next stage in this process is the upcoming European elections. Cypriots in particular, who woke up one morning and they informed us that the Eurogroup and Mr. Anastasiades had deprived us of our future, learnt very well how much the decisions being taken in Brussels affect to a great extent our lives. That’s why we musnt let others decide for us, without us. We decide for ourselves. We will choose the forces that are struggling for the majority, for human rights and the environment, for the progress and prosperity of the peoples. That is precisely why we will strengthen the voice of AKEL, the voice of the Left in the European Parliament
Yes, the great battle of our era is the battle against depreciation, apathy and depoliticization. Recently, at one of our Provincial Conferences, a school student, a militant of EDON’s school student department took the floor of the Conference to explain why he chose to join our Organization. He said that in his school some of his classmates attacked some other of his classmates because they were not Greek-speakers, because they were not Orthodox Christians, because they were “foreigners”. And then, he wondered what he was doing and what could he do to prevent all of these actions from happening. So, he took a stand.
This school student taught us in the simplest way the most important lesson. That is to say, the lesson that each and every one of us must take a stand. If we want to change things, we must take a stand. The anger expressed in Facebook, the rage on football terraces, the voices that claiming that supposedly everyone is the same might let off steam, but they do not correct anything. If we do not want to be the lost generation, then we must fight not to get lost. We must take a stand.
Are we outraged by inequality, exploitation, and 500 euro wages, unemployment, authoritarianism and arrogance, racism, the destruction of the environment and social indifference?
Are we angry about high rents?
Are we enraged with all those who decide That we should live a life full of anxiety, not knowing if we’ll manage to make ends meet for the month, whether we’ll manage to study and have a prospect in life?
We must take a stand. We should take a position on the side of EDON in the struggle for the reunification of our country, for our rights in education, health and work.
We must take a stand with EDON, for our right to a dignified life! Because a strong and mass EDON is a force in the struggles of the youth!
Long live the 19th Pancyprian Congress of EDON!
Long live EDON!
Long live AKEL!
Long live our Cyprus!
