A resolution, adopted by the New European Left Forum, calls for an end to Turkey’s occupation in Cyprus and the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a bizonal bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, international identity and citizenship.
The resolution was approved at the 33rd meeting of the New European Left Forum, which was held in Larnaca, Cyprus, on June 13 and 14.
AKEL Spokesman Antros Kyprianou, who presented the resolution to the press on Wednesday, said participants consider the continuing division of the island to be illegal, unacceptable and to the detriment of the people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike.
Participants condemn the occupation of the island’s northern third by Turkey since the 1974 invasion and the influx of Turkish settlers, which aims at ”altering the demographic character, destroying the cultural heritage and expropriate the land and the properties in the areas not under the control of the Republic of Cyprus since 1974.”
They believe that the appropriate way to achieve a peaceful, just, mutually acceptable and viable solution of the Cyprus problem is through substantive negotiations under UN auspices, on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions, high level agreements between the leaders of the two communities, and international and European law.
Delegates to the meeting furthermore welcome the revival of the peace process and the work being carried out by the working groups and technical committees, set up to deal with various aspects of the Cyprus problem, and urge the two communities to strive towards substantive progress, which will allow for the commencement of direct negotiations between the leaders of the two communities.
They note that a settlement should provide for an end to the occupation, the division and illegal settlement in occupied Cyprus and the evolution of the Republic of Cyprus into a bizonal bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty, international identity and citizenship, guaranteeing its independence and territorial integrity, a state that will comprise two politically equal communities, as provided for in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
The New European Left Forum resolution says the solution should safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the citizens, in line with international law, including the right of the refugees to return to their homes and properties, and the right of the families of missing persons to be informed on the fate of their loved ones.
The participants furthermore express certainty that the two communities can live together as in the past and build a peaceful common future in a united, bizonal, bicommunal federal state, a functional member of the EU and the international community, and a bridge of peace and multiculturalism in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Forum also adopted resolutions on the result of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the US anti-missile system in Europe and the Palestinian question.
19/06/2008 by Financial Mirror
