PRESS
RELEASE
ON THE ANAN PLAN AND
THE CYPRUS BID FOR E.U. ACCESSION
November, 2002
The Federation of Cypriot Organizations in Greece
(O.K.O.E.) watches with increased interest the developments, as
these are taking place with the tabling of the Anan plan for the
solution of the Cyprus problem and the perspective of Cyprus' bid
for accession to the E.U. O.K.O.E. as a structure is representing
the will of fifty thousand plus Greek-Cypriots that live and work
in the wider territory of Greece, many of whom immigrated after
the tragic events of July 1974, and most of whom are refugees. The
Cyprus problem is the utmost issue of their activities and thus
naturally, maybe in front of the most important development which
the Anan plan and the E.U. accession mean for Cyprus, O.K.O.E. is
expressing the following thoughts and ideas.
O.K.O.E.'s position is based on the following
criteria and principles: respect to the principles of international
law, the relevant UN resolutions, the high level agreement between
the two Cyprus' communities, the Aqui Communitaire and the rules
of the E.U. Our aim is overcome the Turkish intransigence, in order
to achieve the withdrawal of their occupation forces and illegal
settlers, and to find between the two island's communities a peaceful,
workable and long lasting solution. A solution that will guarantee
a re-unified Cyprus with a federal structure, one international
personality, an undivided sovereignty, and will reject any groundless
idea for separate states or a con-federation. A Cyprus that has
consciously chosen a European course and perspective, through which
, we believe it shall create the guarantees for all its people of
respect to Human Rights and basic freedoms, and the implementation
in the whole of its territory of the basic freedoms of property,
movement and settlement.
O.K.O.E. basing itself on the above mentioned
criteria concludes that the UN Secretary General's plan contains
points that can be characterized as positive, other as negative,
other as understandable and other as demanding further clarifications.
The plan as it stands it demands serious ammendments and changes,
which are necessary for it to be acceptable.
Basing itself on these conclusions - and without wanting to either
unconditionally accept or reject the plan - O.K.O.E. finds correct
the decision of Cyprus' National Council to accept the Anan plan
as a basis for negotiation, in order to make the necessary ammendments
and changes.
At the same time the National Council and President
Clerides have to make clear that the pursuance of the process of
negotiations cannot take place under the ultimatum of the timetable
included in the Anan plan. O.K.O.E. especially reject the methodology
of reaching a settlement in case of disagreements - i.e. by a decision
of the UN Secretary General.
The Cypriots which live in Greece, as inelainable
part of the Cyprus people, having a full sense of the historical
momentum, SALUTE the mature taken by the State leadership, the political
forces, the organizations and the people of Cyprus, which is characterized
by the need to strengthen internal unity.
The Cypriots which live in Greece, many of whom
are refugees and victims of the 1974 war, having deep heartedly
felt the pain and sorrow of their fellow brothers & sisters
which are refugees and are not included ith the plan, as well as
having headed the position of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, CALLS
upon them to work hand in hand with the rest of their brothers and
sisters in order to make the negative aspects of The Anan plan change.
A similar call is addressed to the political forces
and organizations in Greece and generally the Hellenes abroad, away
from petty-partizan or other short-sighted calculations, TO SUPPORT
POSITEVELY and EXPRESS SOLIDARITY to the Greek-Cypriots, always
bearing in mind the fact that the first ones to implement and live
with any type of solution are the Cypriots, their children, and
the future generations.
Lastly it appeals to our compatriots Turkish-Cypriots
TO HELP in achieving a solution that will be characterized by functionality
and longevity. Such a solution must be first of all fair and just
and aim at correcting the injustice suffered by both communities.
Our future is for a common homeland, which is
free, democratic, and is destined for the legal and Cyprus born
population. A homeland that will aim at a common European perspective
in favour of all.
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