On the anniversary of the coup d’etat which led to partition and Turkish occupation in Cyprus, the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) has released a statement condemning the aggressive actions of NATO and Turkey and calling for international solidarity for peace and reunification.
The YCL is Britain’s affiliate to WFDY, one of over 180 progressive and anti-imperialist youth organisations from more than 100 countries that are members. WFDY organises campaigns as well as solidarity brigades in support of peace, self-determination for all people and social and economic progress.
Today is a day the anti-imperialist youth of the world cannot forget: on the 15th of July of 1974, a coup d’etat took place in Cyprus, leading to the military occupation and partition of the island within an operation designed by NATO.
After a long period of terrorism and aggression against the Cypriot people, the Regimen of the Colonels and the military group EOKA-B overthrew the government of Cyprus to offer an excuse for the Turkish invasion of the island.
Finally, the occupation began on the 20th of July 1974 amid a violent environment due to the nationalist groups of both communities, which cleared the way for NATO with terror and successive murders of democrat and progressive personalities.
It has been 47 years since the coup and we must remember that the Greek Junta and the EOKA-B, along with Turkey, NATO and the nationalist forces consciously coordinated the crime against Cyprus.
Nowadays, the Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus continues, separating the island in North and South parts and being Nicosia the last European capital divided by a wall.
On this date, we reaffirm, on behalf of the World Federation of Democratic Youth, our international solidarity with the Cypriot youth and people, as well as our support for its liberation of Turkish occupation and with the island’s reunification.
We condemn NATO, an imperialist tool at the service of the ruling classes, as the responsible for the invasion and all aggressions to Cyprus like many other peoples, so our fight against it is a priority of the world’s anti-imperialist youth.
In addition, during the last weeks, we have observed Turkey has increased its presence in northern Cyprus through sending military and scientific ships to Cypriot waters, movements whose goal is reassuring its role as occupying power.
These military and extractive manoeuvres are in response to the discovery of gas reserves off the coast of the island, which Turkey intends to exploit to continue its appropriation of Cypriot natural resources.
As we affirmed in our 20th General Assembly, “WFDY confirms its support towards the people of Cyprus and their demand for freedom and reunification under the solution of a bicommunal, bizonal, federal state with a single sovereignty, a single international personality, single citizenship, with political equality between the two communities as it is prescribed in numerous UN Security Council Resolutions and without any foreign guarantors. The comprehensive solution shall include: the full demilitarization of Cyprus, the withdrawal of Turkish occupation forces and settlers, the restoration of the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, the respect of the independence of Cyprus, the respect and restoration of the human rights and freedoms of all Cypriots, including the right of all refugees to return to their homes and properties”.
Challenge News Desk
