The need for the reactivation of the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum in view of the effort for the resumption of the Cyprus talks was underlined on Friday by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot trade union organisations PEO, SEK, PASYDY, POED, ESK, DEOK, TURK-SEN, DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTOS, KTOEOS, KOOPSEN, BES, BASIN SEN at a meeting at the offices of the Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) in Nicosia, confirming the readiness of the trade union movement to contribute to the processes for a Cyprus settlement.

In a joint press release after their meeting the Trade Unions said that on the basis of their common positions it has been decided to request meetings with the representatives of the United Nations and the European Union in Cyprus in order “to make the voice of Cypriot workers heard.”

Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) Secretary General, Sotiroulla Charalambous, said that the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum unites almost all Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot trade union organisations, noting that “in the current circumstances where there is an attempt to resume talks, it is time to reunite our forces, based on the work and the legacy that has already been achieved.”

The central objective, she continued, is to reaffirm the desire of the working people of Cyprus for a just, peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of the agreed framework, and secondly, to resurface “the framework of our own positions and demands in a future solution.”

On his part, Cyprus Workers Confederation (SEK) Secretary General, Andreas Matsas, said that the trade union movement is targeting the everyday life of the people, noting that “it can be better and more complete, with more perspective, if we create the conditions so that the solution of the Cyprus issue takes first and foremost into account the everyday needs of the people, the workers, and the whole society”.

Civil servants’ union PASYDY Secretary General, Stratis Mattheou, for his part, said that trade unions can play a leading role in peaceful coexistence and in the solution of the Cyprus issue. He pointed out that in this context “we can all work in this direction to send messages to the leaderships that the people and especially the workers want this coexistence.”

On behalf of the Turkish Cypriot trade union organisation TURK-SEN, Toprak Altay said that “in the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum we were active for a long time, but unfortunately, we stopped for a while. Ahead of us there is a prospect for the resumption of the talks for the solution of the Cyprus issue”.

For his part, Turkish Cypriot KTAMS representative Mehmet Oytam said that “we all know that it takes a joint effort to have a solution to the Cyprus issue in order to have peace in our country.” He noted that “we need to prepare for the conditions after the solution so that we can meet our responsibilities”.

Moreover, according to a press release of the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum, the meeting confirmed the readiness of the Cyprus Trade Union Movement to contribute to the processes for the solution of the Cyprus issue on the basis of the agreed UN framework and the principles of the European Union and to strengthen the dialogue and joint action between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot workers.

It is added that the member organisations of the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum reaffirm their long-standing and common positions stressing that in a reunited Cyprus, among other things, the implementation of a single system of labour relations and employment should be ensured.

It is noted that in this context and on the basis of the common positions it has been decided to request meetings with the representatives of the United Nations and the European Union in Cyprus in order to make the voice of Cypriot workers heard.

Finally, it is stated that it was decided that a programme of further actions will be discussed at the next meeting of the Pan-Cypriot Trade Union Forum.

Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 illegal Turkish invasion. Numerous UN-backed talks to reunite the island under a federal rood, failed to yield results.

The last round of negotiations took place in 2017 in the Swiss resort of Crans Montana.

Last October the President had a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York. They decided that a five-part meeting will take place soon, but no date has so far been confirmed. They also discussed the opening of more crossing points.