Joint Statement
Pancyprian Federation of Labour (PEO) and the Turkish Cypriot Revolutionary Trade Unions Federation (DEV-IS)
15 February 2022
A meeting was held today, 15 February 2022, at the central offices of PEO, between the Executive Bureau of PEO and the Executive Secretariat of DEV-IS, which is part of the contacts and joint actions between the two Organizations.
During the meeting, the problems affecting working people were discussed and an exchange of views was held on expanding cooperation. In addition, two Organisations also discussed the current situation surrounding the Cyprus problem.
At the same time, the framework of the joint programme of activities for 2022 was co-decided in order to strengthen the contribution of the Trade Union Movement of our country to the solution of the Cyprus problem, as well as the dialogue and joint action between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot workers.
The two Organisations note that working people all over the world are suffering from the consequences of the crisis of the capitalist system and the pandemic which lead to growing social inequalities, the deterioration of poverty and unemployment.
Labour, social and democratic rights are being curtailed under the pretext of the pandemic, while the process of the deregulation of work and labour relations is accelerating.
Despite the pandemic and the economic crisis, the arms race is intensifying and states continue to spend billions of euros on the war industry instead of on health and social welfare.
At the same time, tensions are escalating dangerously and the imperialist powers are continuing their interventions seeking to impose their plans and secure the control over rich resources. The ongoing wars are causing massive material destruction, the loss of thousands of human lives and the flow of refugees and migrants.
The rampant exploitation of the environment for the sake of profit leads to climate change and endangers the sustainable future of the planet.
The conditions that have been created by the spread of the pandemic in our country highlight the common class interests of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot workers, but also the need to intensify the struggles so that the consequences of this crisis and solidarity between workers are not shifted on the backs of the workers and the poor. The fate of the Cypriot working people is common and the only option is class cooperation, unity and solidarity.
PEO and DEV-IS express their deep concern about the stagnation surrounding the Cyprus problem as the absence of dialogue and the creation of new deadlocks lead to the permanent partition of our country.
The two Organisations reiterate their firm commitment to the effort for the solution of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality of the two communities, as set out in the relevant Resolutions of the United Nations, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality. The discussion about other forms of a solution to the Cyprus problem is extremely dangerous as the real dilemma is between federation and partition.
The resumption of the dialogue procedure from the point where the talks were interrupted at Crans Montana is the only way to stop the negative developments and reach an agreement between the two communities and for a solution that will reunite Cyprus.
With the reunification of our country, working people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, will be able to work in peace and security within the framework of a united economy, with a unified system of labour relations and uniform working conditions for all.
The programme of joint activities for 2022, which will be developed on both sides, will include the following:
● Joint actions on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
● Participation in the events to be held in memory of Kavazoglou and Misiaoulis.
● Organisation of events and joint celebration of Worker’s Day.
● Celebration of 1st September, International Trade Union Day of Action for Peace in cooperation with other progressive forces struggling for peace.
● Joint support for the international event on 3 October proclaimed by the WFTU as the international Day of Action of working people.
● Organisation of meetings to inform workers at a district and sectoral level.
● Organisation of visits to monuments (Lefka-Pelendri) and the erection of a monument in Paphos to Ahmed Giaya.
Finally, the two Organizations agreed to strengthen the joint action and mobilization of the working people on the basis of working class values in order to realize the common vision for a peaceful and reunited Cyprus, the homeland of all its children, for a better future and a society based on equality and justice.