Nicosia, Cyprus

On the occasion of International Workers Day, the Pancyprian Federation of Labour PEO and the Turkish Cypriot Revolutionary Trade Union Federation DEV-IS address a warm militant greeting to all the working people of Cyprus. At the same time, we express our solidarity and support to all the peoples struggling for human and labour rights, a better life for the people of labour, the construction of a better world without inequalities and exploitation.

We join our voices with those of the peace-loving progressive forces in the world and Europe who are fighting for a world peace based on the respect of the principles of International Law, against the imperialist new world order which is continuing to provoke wars and suffering to many peoples.

This years International Workers Day is being honoured at a crucial time for working people. The world economic crisis is ongoing and deepening, resulting in the deterioration of the position of the vulnerable strata of the population and undermining of their living standards.

PEO and DEV-IS point out that this world crisis is a crisis of the capitalist system and neo-liberalism and is leading to growing inequalities, the questioning of working peoples gains and the undermining of the welfare state.

Aiming at putting the burden of the crisis on working peoples backs, the ruling circles are seeking to impose on the peoples and workers the very same failed policies that have led to the crisis as the solution to the problems that it has accumulated.

The course of socio-economic convergence within the European Union is also moving in the same direction.

We rally our forces together with those of the European working people against the neo-liberal economic policies being promoted by the ruling circles of Europe. We are struggling for a Europe that will respect the rights and gains of working people, for a Europe of social prosperity and progress.

For another year, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot working people are honouring International Workers Day with our motherland divided. We strongly stress once more that for the working people of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our country remains our fundamental and primary goal.

The two Organisations welcome the mass and militant mobilisations of the Turkish Cypriot working people. Their resistance to the neo-liberal attack against the movement of the working people is heroic.

These massive mobilisations of Turkish Cypriot working people highlight once again the truth that the tackling of Turkish Cypriots socio-economic problems, as well as the safeguarding of their existence as a community, can only be secured through the reunification of our common motherland and the just and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem.

PEO and DEV-IS remain strongly committed to the effort for a bizonal bicommunal federal solution with political equality of the two communities as this is set out in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations and within the framework of a single state, with a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and a single international personality.

PEO and DEV-IS remain firmly devoted to a solution that will be in line with the decisions and resolutions of the United Nations, within the framework of the High-Level Agreements between the two communities, based on the European principles and values and for a solution that shall safeguard the implementation of human rights for all the citizens.

The two Organisations back the procedure of the talks between the leaders and call on them to work with good will on the basis of the points that have been agreed so far, so that they can reach a just and mutually accepted solution both by Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. They aspire that this procedure will come to a completion as soon as possible and lead to an agreed solution that shall reunify Cyprus and make it free and independent, the common motherland of all Cypriots.

The two Organisations reiterate their proposal for the demilitarisation of the whole of Cyprus with the solution of the Cyprus problem.

On the opportunity of International Workers Day, the two Organisations pay homage to the vanguard workers of the working class of Cyprus, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who, through their struggles, laid the foundations for today's rights.

Through these tremendous struggles the joint action of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots was forged, based on the values of the working class, the values of unity and solidarity.

We honour International Workers Day with all the splendour it deserves and call on all the working people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to participate in mass numbers in the common 1st of May meetings organised by PEO, DEV-IS and the other Turkish Cypriot trade union organisations, with due honour to this special day.

The programme of the events includes the following:

- On the 1st May at 10:00 a.m. a mass meeting at the central offices of PEO and 6:30 p.m. on the same day a meeting organised by DEV-IS and the rest of the Turkish Cypriot trade union organisations will be held.

- On the 3rd May 7:30 p.m. a joint meeting at the conference hall "Ahmed Sadi" of the DEV-IS offices will be held in honour of the Turkish Cypriot politician and fighter for Cyprus Özgür Özger. A film dedicated to the life and struggle of Özger will be shown.

PEO and DEV-IS, bounded by the common history and struggles of the working people of our country, reassure the working people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, that they shall continue the efforts for a solution and reunification.

Our vision is that within the framework of a reunified Cyprus we will set out common goals for a better society for all working people.

The 1st of May is the leading day of struggle and solidarity of the working people and shows us the way for joint struggles and a common country.