The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), in memory of the millions of victims of the atrocities committed by Nazism, has established September 1, the date on which Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, as Working People’s Day of Action for World Peace.
On this symbolic day, the class-orientated trade unions of our common homeland unite their voices in the struggle for the defence of peace, for a world without wars and imperialist interventions and for a peaceful and prosperous Cyprus, the common homeland of all its children.
Despite the fact that throughout the world societies and working people are suffering from the harsh consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, nevertheless wars and interventions are continuing, spreading death and destruction, forcing millions of people to flee and migrate.
At a time when working people are facing job insecurity and unemployment, acute social contradictions with predictions of poverty rising, billions of euros are being spent on arms purchases instead of health, education and welfare.
On the occasion of September 1, we express our common concern for the escalation of tension and the dangerous accumulation of military forces in the Eastern Mediterranean. We believe that the genuine interest of all the region’s peoples is not served neither by the escalation and confrontation, nor by any involvement in the geopolitical games of the powerful of the world. The interest of the peoples is served by mutual understanding, cooperation and the peaceful solution of any disputes, through dialogue on the basis of reciprocity and the principles of international law.
The natural wealth that appears to exist in our region, must operate as a factor of peace and cooperation aiming at the prosperity of the peoples and not as a factor of conflict and confrontation to serve other alterior and selfish interests.
Developments in Cyprus, but also in our region, confirm once again the need to achieve a solution of the Cyprus problem which will contribute to the de-escalation of the tensions and for stability and peace to prevail in the Eastern Mediterranean.
That is precisely why the common struggle of the Cypriot working people for a solution and the reunification of Cyprus is part of the struggle of the peoples of the world for world peace to prevail. We reiterate on this occasion our commitment to continue our common struggle for the reunification of our homeland within the framework of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. For a single state with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality, demilitarized and independent without guardians and protectors.
The talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem must resume as soon as possible from the point where they had remained at Crans Montana and this time they should lead to a positive conclusion.
Despite the difficulties that have been created by the pandemic and barbed wires of division, the fate of the Cypriots is common and the only option for resolving the problems is through cooperation and solidarity. Within this framework, the opening of the checkpoints, with all the necessary measures to protect public health, will help contacts between the two communities resume and the effort to resume the talks.
The pandemic and the conditions that have been created set new tasks before us. We call on the working people to rally their forces around the trade unions to convey the message that we will never under any circumstances accept that the effects of the current crisis will be loaded on to the backs of the working people. We shall continue the struggle for peace and social progress.
The trade union organisations PEO, DEVIS, KTAMS, KTOS, KTOEOS, KOOPSEN, BES, DAUSEN due to the measures that have been taken to confront the coronavirus pandemic, are holding an online discussion on Tuesday, September 1 at 16.30 pm. The discussion will be broadcast live from the PEO Facebook page and website.