Secretary General of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), Pambis Kiritsis, told Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Trade Union members that the Federation ‘was and will be a constant supporter in the struggle for a just and mutually acceptable solution of the Cyprus question, within the framework of bizonal, bicommunal federation, with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single international personality, with political equality as described in the UN resolutions.’
Kiritsis was speaking at a bicommunal even on Friday afternoon, on the occasion of the International Action Day of Trade Unions for Peace, which the World Federation of Trade Unions marks on September 1st. The Pancyprian Federation of Labour trade union (PEO) organized a gathering at Eleftherias Square, in Nicosia and participants marched towards Ledra Palace crossing point and meet with the Turkish Cypriot trade unions in the buffer zone.
Earlier, Secretary General of PEO, Sotiroulla Charalambous, read the joint declaration of PEO, DEV-IS, KTAMS, KTÖS, KTOEÖS, BES, KOOP-SEN, DAÜ-SEN and bicommunal initiative for peace ‘United Cyprus’ in Greek.
In the declaration, the trade unions express concerns due to the long time negotiations remain stalled and call on both leaders in Cyprus to actively reaffirm their commitment to a settlement within the framework of a bizonal bicommunal federation, with political equality as described in the UN resolutions. They also call for negotiations to resume from the point they were left off at Crans Montana, within the agreed framework and the achieved convergences.
Participating in the International Action Day of Trade Unions for Peace, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot trade unions also asked for more funds for health, social policies and education, rather than military equipment.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
Source: Cyprus News Agency