Press conference after the Plenary of the Central Council of EDON on the 2014-2015 Action Plan
15th September 2014, Nicosia
- On 8th September 2014 the 10th plenary of the Central Council of EDON convened to discuss on its agenda the "2014-2015 Action Plan" After conducting a discussion on the political and organizational goals of the Organization for this year, the Plenary of the C.C. of EDON unanimously concluded the following:
- Today the Cypriot people are facing many critical problems that demand they be tackled and not the shifting of responsibilities. Today the slogan "it’s the fault of the previous government" cannot continue any longer. Our people, especially the young generation, are today even more intensely suffering from the severe consequences of the global capitalist crisis. The decisions of the Eurogroup and the Anastasiades government in March 2013, the anti-social policies of the current government are characterized by tough austerity - privatizations - cuts, the obedient allegiance and subordination to the Troika, serving only the privileged few who will supposedly kick-start the economy and put Cyprus on the path of growth.
- The deadlocks which the "New World Order" is leading humanity towards, the violation of human rights and International Law, supposedly in the name of combating terrorism, the domination and immunity of the USA and its NATO allies, the ferocity of the imperialist interventions due to the crisis, the intensification of inter-imperialist contradictions, make the need for us to intensify our anti-imperialist struggle and solidarity even more pressing.
- In our region changes are taking place that can immediately be expressed through NATO aggressive military operations. Israel's attack in Palestine and more specifically in Gaza, which represents the bloodiest and most brutal attack in recent years, reveals barbarity of imperialism. The arming of extremist Islamic forces by the USA and its allies to overthrow regimes hostile to the USA and the promotion of the plans for a "Greater Middle East" by all means has once again led to the bloody massacre in Iraq, Libya, Lebanon and Syria.
- The black 65th anniversary of NATO was marked by bloodshed in the case of Ukraine as well. Ukraine's case also illustrates the hypocrisy of the European Union which on the one hand preaches and declares respect for human rights and on the other it openly supports neo-Nazi and extreme right-wing paramilitary groups and engages in an unprecedented anti-communist hysteria whose main goal is the dissolution of the Communist Party of Ukraine.
- We shall continue our struggle against the machinations, both within and outside Cyprus, for our accession to the NATO program "Partnership for Peace" and NATO itself. Particular emphasis must be given this year too on the struggle against the anti-communist hysteria which is growing and has as its primary objective the distortion and falsification of history.
- This year forty years have elapsed since the double NATO crime of 15th and 20th July 1974, that is to say, the treacherous coup d'état and Turkey's brutal invasion. Once again we are entrusted with the duty of maintaining and reinforcing among the young generation the need to fulfil our strategic objective for the liberation and reunification of our country and people on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as set out in the relevant resolutions of the United Nations; for a single state with a single and indivisible sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship; for a solution that will liberate Cyprus from the occupation, colonization and any foreign dependencies; for a solution that will safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all the people of Cyprus.
- President Anastasiades carried away by hispre-election anxiousness to be elected to the Presidency of the Republic promised to change the supposedly "compromising and failed tactics" of Demetris Christofias on the Cyprus problem. Today he is captive of that pre-election promise he made. We urge the President to abandon the regressions, experimentations and tactical manoeuvrings and stop giving so much ground for Mr. Eroglou the Turkish Cypriot leader to play his communication games, giving him the opportunity to waste time, which is an ally in Turkey's pursuit to consolidate and perpetuate the fait accomplish of the occupation and colonization of the occupied areas.
- EDON unequivocally declares that it will not consent to a solution that will include Cyprus ‘accession to NATO or/and a deviation from the principle of demilitarization.
- Today, regrettably the Anastasiades Government is abandoning all the plans that were elaborated and prepared during the Christofias administration and which aimed at utilising Cyprus' natural wealth as soon as possible. This is taking place at the same time when the use of natural gas could be a factor of peace and prosperity for our people, especially today when the Cypriot people are suffering under the yoke of the Memorandum.
- We have a duty to strengthen the belief that the solution is not only necessary, but also feasible. We must maintain open channels of communication with the Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish Cypriot progressive youth movement and contribute to the broader effort to ensure that the procedure of the direct talks has the best possible chance of arriving at a successful outcome.
- EDON will remain a staunch unwavering opponent of nationalism - chauvinism, bigotry and fascism and of ultra-right ideologies that are poising the relations between the two communities.
- On the domestic front we must continue the struggle against the forces of fatalism and glorification of the American role and policy on the one hand and the forces projecting maximalist, nationalist goals and objectives on the other.
- We express our deep concern about the activity of extreme-right fascist organizations in Cyprus. Their rhetoric and slogans are reminiscent of the period of the traitorous activity of EOKA B*. The racism and xenophobia these organisations stand for are fermenting mentalities and attitudes promoting hatred in Cypriot society. *Armed underground fascist, nationalist and fiercely anti-communist organisation which operated during 1971-1974 and executed together with the Greek junta the foreign-instigated fascist coup d'état, giving the pretext to Turkey it sought to invade and occupy almost 40% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
- At the same time we must fight against the Turkish and other imperialist machinations for the upgrading of the pseudo-state in the occupied areas, a development which with certainty will lead to the finalisation of the partition of our country.
- We are living in unprecedented conditions in Cyprus today. The consequences of the economic crisis have aggravated the life of each and every one of us. The disastrous decisions of the Eurogroup last March were taken with the agreement of the Anastasiades government and in reality have completely shaken the Cyprus economy to its roots.
- In line with the new Memoranda, which the Government is signing and arbitrarily agrees to, the Cypriot people can only expect to see its position deteriorating, whilst the constant announcements about new anti-social measures will generate and regenerate new demands and blackmailing dilemmas.
- The Anastasiades Government and the ruling Rally party are indiscriminately, arrogantly and autocratically implementing their neoliberal policies on the one hand, while on the other they refuse to listen to the people's cries of distress and anxiety and unashamedly ignoring all the commitments they made.
- EDON insists that the consequences of the systemic crisis and the problems of the banking system cannot be loaded on the backs of the poor, the unemployed, the low paid, pensioners, farmers, the middle strata, the young generation and small and middle shopkeepers.
- EDON will remain the leading assertive and militant force among the youth, projecting with clarity our own distinct ideological - political positions and character in the youth movement and society in general. Our effort must as always be focused on our own class approach in order to serve the interests of the common people and young generation, school pupils, students, working youth and conscripts in the National Guard.
- To combat the policy of austerity, the attacks on salaries, pensions and rights, in the face of the danger of the foreclosure of properties and privatizations, we have to react strongly with the power of popular mobilizations and we will achieve this if we take action, leave aside the TV and our computer, take the path of struggle, rejecting defeatism, misery and fatalism.
- We should send a message to the ruling circles in the European Union that the policies that are being pursued in recent decades are dead-end.
- Abstention in elections and young people's non-participation in social and political affairs and struggles do not create preconditions for change. On the contrary, this rewards the policies which want us slaves and subjugated to the Troika and the Memorandum dead-end.
- On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of AON - EDON we vow that, together with AKEL and the Peoples Movement of the Left, we will work with all our strength to restore trust towards the Left, where and wherever it has been shaken, defending our Party and Organization.