Joint Declaration between ONED and YBH Youth

ONED and YBH Youth, the Youth Organizations of the United Democrats (EDI) and the Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH) respectively, have met in Nicosia on the 30th of May 2003 to discuss the current situation in Cyprus, and have agreed on the following:

1. We stand in favor of close interaction between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities of Cyprus and we call the people to further support this interaction by participating in all bicommunal events.

We favor all further efforts to minimize and if possible, eliminate the procedures that Cypriots undergo in order to cross the lines.

However, we call the People to beware in order to avoid turning this interaction into a weapon for those who accept division and separation as a solution. Only the final mutually agreed solution is going to determine all issues concerning property ownership.

2. The current situation can under no circumstances constitute a solution. We call the political authorities on both sides to immediately initiate substantive talks on the basis of the Annan Plan, according to the procedures described by the UN Secretary General.

3. We feel that the effective implementation of the Acquis Communautaire on the whole of island is very important. Our position on the implementation of the Acquis extends to the fair representation of the Turkish Cypriot community among the Cypriot Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

4. We find that our common ground rests in the belief that tolerance and mutual respect are basis on which peaceful cohabitation and cooperation will be built on our island. We condemn all excessive and fanatic positions as destructive, outdated and irrelevant.

5. We are determined, as political youth organizations and as representatives of the young generations of Cyprus, to promote and support bi-communal activities and structures of all kinds. We are actively considering our options as to how to do this. We feel that this is the time to promote cooperation between the two communities and we intend to continue our cooperation in order to exchange our views and promote those values that constitute common ground between us.

6. Despite our worries about the current situation, we stand hopeful in the knowledge that our people is comprised of two communities whose member wish to live together in peace. (NM)