Solidarity Statement with the people of Cyprus

“The freedom and reunification of Cyprus is a milestone against imperialist aggression”

• We assert that the Cyprus problem is the result of foreign intervention and imperialist aggression; in July 1974, the Greek junta and the fascist organization EOKA B staged a coup d'état against the elected President of the Republic of Cyprus Archbishop Makarios.
• We recall that Turkey exploited the coup d'état to materialise its expansionist plans in Cyprus, invading illegally the island which remains occupied to this day in flagrant violation of international law.
• We recall that the double crime of the coup d'état and invasion was planned by the US and NATO aiming to divide Cyprus and impose union of one part to Greece and the other to Turkey, as both countries were NATO members.
• We emphasize that the persisting violation of the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, the continuing violation of the human rights and freedoms of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the perpetuation of the division of the people of Cyprus and the illegal mass settlement of the occupied territory to alter the demographic character of the island, form another expression of the imperialist aggression in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the world.
• We reiterate that the Cyprus problem is in essence an international problem of invasion and illegal occupation, in violation of the fundamental principles of international law and the Charter of the UN, but also has an internal aspect, of restoring relations between the two communities of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot.
• We underline the negative prospects for the future of the negotiations following the recent failure of the peace process in Switzerland.
• We stress that the recent failure cannot be the end of all efforts to liberate and reunify Cyprus but that the leaders of the two communities, echoing the calls of the UN Secretary-General, should return to the table of the negotiations with the political will to reach a solution within the agreed framework of bicommunal, bizonal federation and in accordance with international law.
• We reiterate that Turkey’s departure from its long- standing intransigence that has hindered any concrete progress in the last 42 years remains a prerequisite for the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem; for the termination of the occupation, the demilitarisation of the Republic of Cyprus, the annulment of the anachronistic Treaty of Guarantee and the exclusion of any right of foreign intervention.
• We underline that the status quo entrenches the long- term aspirations and objectives of Turkey against Cyprus and is not counter-productive for the strategic goals of NATO to maintain the geostrategic and military control of our region. On the contrary, we emphasise that the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework is the only way to reunite our people and country, thus providing the impetus for common class struggles and a future socialist transformation.

The Communist and Workers’ Parties signing the present Statement:

1. Demand the immediate withdrawal of Turkish army, the demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus and the abolishment of foreign guarantees and of any rights for foreign intervention; it is within this context that permanent peace can be pursued, that would allow indeed the reunification, independence and freedom of the Cypriot people as a whole.
2. Demand the solution of the Cyprus problem the soonest possible, on the basis of international law and the UN Security Council resolutions. The solution must restore the human rights and freedoms, provide for the transformation of the Republic of Cyprus from a unitary state to a bicommunal, bizonal federation with a single and indivisible sovereignty, a single international personality and single citizenship with due respect to the principle of political equality, as this is prescribed in the relevant UN resolutions.
3. Call for an immediate verification of the fate of the remaining missing persons of the Cypriot tragedy.
4. Deplore the policies of Turkey in the occupied part of Cyprus aiming to the consolidation on the ground of the divisionistfaits accomplis; including the enforced economic and cultural assimilation of the Turkish Cypriots, as well as the recent imposition of “charges” for medicines and basic supplies transferred to Greek Cypriots enclaved in the occupied part of the island.
5. Express their strong support for the resumption of the direct negotiations as soon as possible and call on Turkey to commit itself in abandoning its long-standing intransigent stance against Cyprus.
6. Call on the international community to stop tolerating the continuing illegality that is taking place in Cyprus, and exert its influence on Turkey in order to terminate its divisive policies on the ground and take concrete steps for the solution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework.
7. Express their solidarity with and support to the struggle of the Cypriot people for the liberation and reunification of its country.

THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF AKEL – NOVEMBER 2017

Parties undersigning

1. Argentina - Communist Party of Argentina
2. Australia - Communist Party of Australia
3. Bahrain - Democratic Progressive Tribune
4. Bangladesh - Communist Party of Bangladesh
5. Bangladesh - Workers' Party of Bangladesh
6. Belgium - Communist Party of Wallonia-Brussels
7. Brazil - Communist Party of Brazil (PCdoB)
8. Britain – Communist Party of Britain
9. Britain - New Communist Party of Britain
10. Bulgaria - Communist Party of Bulgaria
11. Bulgaria - Party of the Bulgarian Communists
12. Canada - Communist Party Of Canada
13. Chile – Communist Party of Chile
14. Colombia - Colombian Communist Party
15. Croatia - Socialist Workers' Party of Croatia
16. Cuba - Communist Party of Cuba
17. Czech Republic - Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (CPBM)
18. Denmark - Communist Party in Denmark (KPiD)
19. Denmark - Communist Party of Denmark
20. Ecuador - Communist Party of Ecuador
21. Egypt – Egyptian Communist Party
22. Finland - Communist Party of Finland
23. France - French Communist Party
24. Germany – German Communist Party (DKP)
25. Georgia – Unified Communist Party of Georgia
26. Ireland - Communist Party of Ireland
27. Ireland - The Workers' Party of Ireland
28. Hungary - Hungarian Workers' Party
29. India – Communist Party of India
30. India – Communist Party of India (M)
31. Iran – Tudeh Party of Iran
32. Iraq – Iraqi Communist Party
33. Israel - Communist Party of Israel
34. Italy – Party of the Communist Refoundation
35. Jordan –Communist Party of Jordan
36. Lebanon - Lebanese Communist Party
37. Luxembourg - Communist Party of Luxembourg (KPL)
38. Madagascar - Party of the Congress for Independence of Madagascar (AKFM)
39. Malta – Communist Party of Malta
40. Norway - Communist Party of Norway
41. Pakistan – Communist Party of Pakistan
42. Palestine - Palestinian People's Party
43. Palestine - Palestinian Communist Party
44. Panama – Party of the People
45. Peru - Communist Party of Peru (Patria Roja)
46. Philippine Communist Party [PKP 1930]
    
47. Portugal – Portuguese Communist Party
48. Romania – Romanian Socialist Party
49. Russia – Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)
50. Russia - Russian Communist Workers' Party
51. Russia - Union of Communist Parties-CPSU
52. Serbia - Communists of Serbia
53. Serbia - New Communist Party of Yugoslavia
54. South Africa - South African Communist Party (SACP)
55. Spain - Communist Party of Spain (PCE)
56. Spain - Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain
    
57. Spain – Communists of Catalonia
58. Syria - Syrian Communist Party
59. Syria - Syrian Communist Party (Unified)
60. Sudan – Sudanese Communist Party
61. Turkey - Communist Party of Turkey (TKP)
62. Ukraine - Communist Party Of Ukraine
63. Uruguay – Communist Party of Uruguay
64. USA - Communist Party USA
    
65. Venezuela – Communist Party of Venezuela
66. Vietnam - Communist Party of Vietnam