His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan

United Nations Secretary General

New York

Nicosia 19 February 2004

 Excellency,

We the youth organizations EDON, CTP Youth Branch, NEDHSY, TKP Youth Branch, YBH Youth, BKP Youth Branch, KSP Youth Branch, CABP Youth Branch, commonly declare the following:

1. Reaffirm their commitment to a peaceful and united Cyprus based on a federal solution to accede European Union on May 1rst, 2004.
2. Remain focused on the efforts of the UN to achieve a solution through negotiations on the basis of the Annan Plan. Such a settlement must provide for a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single sovereignty and one international personality, on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the High Level Agreements of 1977 and 1979 and must be in accordance to the UN Charter and International Law. The solution must respect the basic human rights, the fundamental freedoms and civil liberties of all Cypriots and observe the principle of political equality of both communities.
3. Welcome the decision to resume negotiations on the basis of your Plan. Expect the EU and the International Community as a whole, to act at their level best to facilitate and support the efforts of the UN. This revived initiative must aim at achieving a comprehensive, workable and lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem, as soon as possible.
4. Urge all sides to negotiate within the philosophy of the Annan Plan, in order to fill in the remaining gaps and to seek those changes that are in favour of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots alike, make the Plan more functional and the solution more viable, therefore, reaching a consensus in the first leg of the three staged negotiation timetable.
5. Such a solution should be approved by Cyprus people on simultaneous referenda in both communities, on a fixed date, in order for Cyprus to accede to the EU reunited on May 1st, 2004. 
6. Despite the strong will of the Turkish Cypriots to overthrow the status quo on December 14th, 2003, the status quo mechanisms managed to manipulate the outcome, to a certain extent.
7. Underline that the partial lifting of restrictions in the freedom of movement since April 2003 and the witnessed reunion and interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots has provided the most concrete evidence of the strong will for peace and reunification that exists among ordinary people. At the same time the supporters of the status quo witness the groundlessness of their nationalist policies of segregation and division, on an everyday basis.
8. While welcoming the positive atmosphere brought about by the interaction between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, we consider the requirement of passport presentation and all other restrictions as totally unacceptable and outside the spirit of good will and reconciliation and we call for their immediate lifting.
9. Consider that the partial lifting of restrictions on the freedom of movement and other measures cannot, under any circumstances, be a substitute for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.
10. Call upon the people of Cyprus to join us in the struggle to promote peace and rapprochement thus strengthening our cause for a solution based on the Annan Plan and the reunification of our common country. We want Cyprus to enter the European Union reunited on May the first. The youth of Cyprus is no longer misled by the nationalist policies of segregation and division. Our vision is one of a united Cyprus based on federal solution, with its people living in peace, security, democracy and prosperity.

 The progressive and peace forces in both Communities, despite the setbacks, have the historical task to enforce the common struggle for the reunification of our island. We have a duty to continue the struggle for rapprochement and peaceful coexistence between G/C and T/C and to create an atmosphere that will not only reduce the migration of Cyprus youth but also provide a basis to attract them back to the island. We express the certainty that the time will come when our people will be able to work, live and struggle together in a concerted effort to build the future of our children, in a peaceful, reunited and prosperous federal Cyprus.