Trade unions point out July 8 agreement should be implemented

The Pancyprian Workers’ Federation (PEO) and Turkish Cypriot civil servants’ union KTAMS met on Tuesday in Nicosia and agreed that the July 8 agreement should be implemented.

In a joint statement, PEO and KTAMS noted that ”the procedure agreed on by the leaders of the two communities under the auspices of the UN should immediately proceed to implementation, which could and should lead to new substantive negotiations the soonest possible, aimed at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.”

The two trade unions reaffirm their support to a solution of a bicommunal, bizonal federation, on the basis of UN decisions on Cyprus, noting that a settlement should primarily serve the interests of the Cypriots themselves and not third parties.

”With bold steps by the leaders and with decisive policies, which will be supported by the people, we can reach a settlement,” the unions point out and assure that they will continue their bilateral contacts and trade union unity, encouraging the efforts of the politicians for peace.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat agreed on 8 July 2006, during a meeting in Nicosia in the presence of UN official Ibrahim Gambari, to begin a process of bicommunal discussions on issues that affect the day-to-day life of the people and concurrently those that concern substantive issues, both contributing to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem.