The Greek Cypriot Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO), the Turkish Cypriot trade union DEVIS and the Bi-communal Initiative “United Cyprus” are organising a joint event to mark the International Day of Trade Union Action for Peace.
The event, titled “Peace and Reunification Encounter”, will take place on September 1st near the Home for Cooperation, located in the UN-controlled buffer zone, which separates the northern Turkish occupied part of Cyprus from the southern government controlled areas of the Republic, a place which according to the organisers has a symbolic meaning for the event.
September 1st has been established by the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), in memory of the attack of Nazi Germany against humanity in 1939 and the millions of victims of Nazism and fascism.
At a press conference held here Tuesday at the House of Cooperation the Secretary General of PEO Pambis Kyritsis and Sener Elcil, Secretary General of the KTOS, Turkish Cypriot teachers’ trade union, presented the program of the event and read a joint declaration, both in Greek and Turkish.
The joint declaration points out that the greatest danger faced today by the people of Cyprus is the continuation of division and stresses that the only way to solve the Cyprus issue and achieve reunification is through peace talks.
The organisers “demand that the negotiations continue intensely in a constructive spirit and in goodwill, aiming solely at achieving an agreed solution”. They also “demand that the progress that has been achieved so far at the talks is safeguarded”.
“We remain strongly committed to the effort for a bizonal bicommunal federal solution with political equality of the two communities as set out by the relevant decisions of the United Nations and within the framework of a united state, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality based on the agreements of 23rd May and 1st July” the declaration said.
It also refers to the world financial crisis, noting that it is clearly a crisis of the capitalist system and neo-liberalism which is leading to growing inequality and the undermining of the welfare state.
The trade unions reiterate, in the declaration, that they will continue fighting in order to place the burden of the consequences of the economic crisis on the backs of those who can afford it.
The joint declaration is signed by 61 organisations, political parties, trade unions and NGOs.
