the 17th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties[En]

Communist and Workers Parties participating in the 17th International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties held on 30-31^st October and 1^st November, 2015, in Istanbul, Turkey undersigned the statement below:

For the freedom and reunification of Cyprus – 41 years since the coup d'état, the Turkish invasion and occupation

• Recall that forty one years ago, 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,
• 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. Turkey illegally occupies 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, violates the human rights and freedoms of the Cypriot people as a whole, and through the illegal mass settlement of the occupied territory it attempts to alter the demographic character of the island.
• 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,
• Note that 40 years on Cyprus continues to suffer the consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation,
• 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,
• Note that the Cyprus problem has also an internal aspect, of restoring relations between the two communities of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot,
• Take note of Ankara’s intransigence and denial to undertake concrete measures to support the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem; remind that this was also revealed with last year’s issuing of NAVTEX by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey for the binding of regions of the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus to conduct research and exercises at a time of ongoing negotiations, thus leading to their suspension,
• Underline the ongoing efforts to reach a comprehensive solution being conducted by the leaders of the two communities under the auspices of the UN for the reunification of Cyprus and the restoration of peace on the island; and that constructive use of the convergences reached between Christofias- Talat can facilitate a solution within the agreed framework of bicommunal, bizonal federation and in accordance with international law.

The Communist and Workers’ Parties sign the present Statement:

1 Denounce Turkey’sintransigent policy that perpetuates the Cyprus problem and consolidates the divisionistfaits accomplis on the ground.

2 Declare that the tolerance exhibited by the international community to the continuing illegality that is taking place in Cyprus, is unacceptable and must be ended immediately.

3 They 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 in the framework of a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality as prescribed in the relevant UN resolutions.

4 They demand permanent peace that would allow indeed the reunification, independence and freedom of the Cypriot people as a whole.

5 They call for an immediate verification of the fate of the remaining more than 1500 missing persons of the Cypriot tragedy.

7 Underline that unilateral actions of the Turkish government and provocative statements increase tension in the region and affect negatively the inter-communal talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

8 Call on the international community to exert its influence on Turkey in order to abandon its intransigent stance, to terminate its divisive policies on the ground and take concrete steps for the solution of the Cyprus problem within the agreed framework.

9 Express their discontent with recent statements of EU circles expressing their readiness to accommodate in an excessive manner Turkey’s demands vis- a- vis the EU in light of the migration crisis, despite its declared unwillingness to normalize relations with the Republic of Cyprus and implement relevant obligations.

10 Express their solidarity with and support to the struggle of the Cypriot people for the liberation and reunification of its country.

The statement is signed by the following Parties:

Participant Parties

1. Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism, PADS
2. Communist Party of Argentina
3. Communist Party of Azerbaijan
4. Workers' Party of Belgium
5. Brazilian Communist Party
6. Communist Party of Brazil
7. Communist Party of Britain
8. Communist Party of Bulgaria
9. Socialist Workers' Party of Croatia
10. Communist Party of Cuba
11. AKEL
12. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia
13. Communist Party in Denmark
14. Communist Party of Finland
15. French Communist Party
16. Communist Party of Macedonia (FYROM)
17. Unified Communist Party of Georgia
18. German Communist Party
19. Communist Party of Greece
20. Hungarian Workers' Party
21. Communist Part of India
22. Communist Party of India (M)
23. Party TUDEH of Iran
24. Iraqi Communist Party
25. Communist Party of Kurdistan-Iraq
26. Workers' Party of Ireland
27. Communist Party of Israel
28. Communist Party of Kazakhstan
29. Lebanese Communist Party
30. Socialist People's Front, Lithuania
31. Communist Party of Malta
32. Communist Party of Mexico
33. Communist Party of Norway
34. Palestinian People's Party
35. Palestinian Communist Party
36. Portuguese Communist Party
37. Communist Party of the Russian Federation
38. Russian Communist Workers' Party
39. Communist Party of Soviet Union
40. Communists of Serbia
41. South African Communist Party
42. Communist Party of Spain
43. Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain
44. Communist Party of Sri Lanka
45. Sudanese Communist Party
46. Syrian Communist Party
47. Communist Party, Turkey
48. Communist Party of Ukraine
49. Union of Communists of Ukraine

Other SolidNet Parties

1. Communist Party of Luxembourg
2. Phillipine Communist Party [PKP-1930]