Call from Cypriot socialist youth on international socialist youth

news by Sevgul Uludag

The Patriotic Unity Movement Youth, called on international socialist youth organizations to put more pressure on the Ankara government and the regime in the north, for the resolution of the Cyprus conflict. In a letter to IUSY, the Cypriot youth says that the situation in the northern part of Cyprus is becoming more dangerous.

The Patriotic Unity Movement Youth, called on international socialist youth organizations to put more pressure on the Ankara government and the regime in the north, for the resolution of the Cyprus conflict. In a letter to IUSY, the Cypriot youth says that the situation in the northern part of Cyprus is becoming more dangerous.

In a letter addressed to IUSY, Murat Kanatli, the General Secretary of the Patriotic Unity Movement Youth from northern Cyprus said:

 "30 November 2000, Nicosia

Dear Lisa Pelling,

Secretary General of IUSY

We would like to thank for your invitation. Unfortunately, we could not participate your seminar and meeting because of unfair suspension by the regime in the north. We would like to express our perspective of Cyprus Problem and EU Membership.

We believe that,

The solution of the Cyprus problem, which will lead to the Federal Republic of Cyprus, should be based on the High-Level Agreements, relative United Nations resolutions and International Law. The Federal Republic of Cyprus based on a bi-communal and bi-zonal state should safeguard full independence, territorial integrity, single international personality, single sovereignty and single citizenship and should restore human rights for all Cypriots.

Cyprus should become a member of the European Union as soon as possible where a Cyprus within the European Union promises a prosperous and safe future for all citizens of the island. We wish that finding a solution to the Cyprus question and the accession of Cyprus to the European Union would happen at the same time. It can be noticed that there is a great improvement in contact between citizens and especially youth from both communities since last year. However this communication is still limited and controlled by the authority in the north where we would like a continuously open and expanded level of communication because it promotes mutual understanding, respect and co-existence for our common future. There is an increased tension by the Ankara government and the regime in the north where there is potential danger of suspension of communication between the two communities.

We call on all related and responsible sides to comply with the above-mentioned agreed federal framework paving the way for direct and meaningful dialogue.

At the same time, we call on all socialist and democratic youth organizations to struggle against the regime in the north and Ankara Government for a solution of Cyprus, which will be based on the above-mentioned federal framework.

The situation in northern Cyprus is becoming more dangerous; the printing works where the newspaper Avrupa is printed, was attacked and burned down; note that this follows the arrest of the editor last July, Shener Levent, trials of Turkish Cypriot politicians who have had articles published arguing for disengagement of the Turkish army from Turkish Cypriot civilian life and for a federal solution to Cyprus in Europe, and demonstrations and strikes since July about the economic situation in northern Cyprus; note that on 20 November the civilian trials against Izzet Izcan and Ozker Ozgur of the Patriotic Unity Movement, which have been postponed repeatedly since May, were suspended but may be reactivated at any time; note that this follows attacks in the late 1980s on political party offices, and the murder of Kutlu Adali, a journalist, in 1996; is concerned that events this year in the north of Cyprus, in response to demonstrations conflict with European ideas of human rights, freedom of speech and democracy and we believed that our voice and interests are not been heard in the international discussions taking place on the future of the island. We hope that; your organization shows more sensitivity to the unacceptable, unfair situation in the north.

Finally, we would like to express that we will continue to struggle for a peaceful solution in Cyprus where this struggle is not only for peace in the island but also against all nationalist and chauvinist ideas all over the world. We are ready for a joint struggle against all these ideas.

 

Murat Kanatli

General Secretary of

Patriotic Unity Movement Youth"