The 19th Pancyprian Conference of EDON, which met from the 4th to the 6th of January 2019 based on the discussion of "Positions of the Central Council", the introductory speech of the Secretary General of EDON and the introductory speeches presented, concluded to the following decision:
The IInternational Situation
1. Our Conference takes place in the aftermath of the larger, in-depth and duration capitalist crisis, resulting in a profound intensification of the imperialist competitions between the powerful centers of the planet, as well as the class contrasts between Capital and Labor.
It is about a structural crisis of capitalism, which has verified the theoretical analyses of the classics of Marxism and has confirmed the Leninist analysis of imperialism. It is a crisis that is rooted in the basic opposition of capitalism, which wants production to be social in nature, but the result of production end up in the hands of the few, of the multinational corporations and monopolies, which their unique motivation is to ensure an ever greater profit.
The crisis of the system, the poverty it causes, the wars and the instability that it generates, along with the class barriers that stand in all areas of social life, confirm the topicality and necessity of socialism for mankind and the need to build the society that will be free from exploitation, the society of prosperity and social justice.
2. The economic crisis has led to realignments between the Imperialists, in changes in power relations, traditional alliances have been challenged and new ones have been formed, while the general torque of international political reality leads to greater militarization, more violent and military outbursts.
In combination with these realignments, is taking place the rising of countries such as China, India and Russia and the other countries of BRICS (Brazil, South Africa) triggering new tensions in the politicoeconomical and military aggression from US-NATO- E.U, in order to defend their hegemony in the imperialist "New Order of Things". NATO's enlargement towards the east, the American-inspired plan for the "New Middle East", the EU's penetration in Eastern Europe and the geopolitical surround of Russia and China respectively, reveal the intentions of the imperialist Centers.
At the heart of the imperialist competition, at this stage, is the effort to control energy sources and pipelines, waterways and markets. The wider region of the southeastern Mediterranean attracts the greatest interest of the imperialists, due to its geo-strategic position, the control of energy and trade routes as well as the concentration of large energy reserves, in an area that was historically unstable.
As part of the ideological imposition of the imperialist "New order", the cultivation of anticommunism is also included as a form of combating Communist, radical and broader progressive forces. Anticommunism is institutionalised and at its forefront has the unscientific theory of the two extremes, the equation of fascism with communism is attempted and an attempt to impose the counterfeiting and the revision of modern world history is made.
Neonazist and neofascist organizations are developing, particularly in Europe, and in some countries gain strong parliamentary representation and/or participate in government coalitions. These forces constitute born-bred of the system and appear very strongly in the imperialist stage of development of capitalism. They act for the interests of large capital, which makes sure to use them for the terrorization of the popular masses. At the same time, Communist, progressive and anti-fascist parties, organisations and movements are being criminalized and persecuted.
EDON rejects the "New Order of Things" and struggles against imperialistic plans. It pronounces even stronger the position for the dismantling of NATO and its branches and the defense of international law. It follows the path of organized struggle and the forging of a resistance front against any reactionary, obscurantist, fascist and fundamentalist force.
3. The European Union is strengthening its character as a promoted organisation of capitalist integration. On this basis, processes are taking place that deepen the integration of the EU on a path where the sovereignty of States and peoples is reduced dramatically and is being transferred to the reactionary level of the EU. These developments are impacting negatively to the people and workers, while in the years following the outbreak of the crisis Europeans have been living in conditions of serious material deprivation, without sufficient money to meet basic human needs.
The EU is leading the further institutionalization of the neoliberalism, implementing policies that weaken the social role of the state, strengthen the ground for attacks on labour rights and public wealth, reinforce the speculation of multinationals and monopolies, further widening the gap between rich and poor. The burdens of the crisis are imposed on the shoulders of workers and popular strata, not only through the memoranda imposed by the EU together with the IMF in member states, but also by its general economic policy.
At the foreign policy level, the EU is increasingly linked to NATO's objectives (see newly established PESCO – Permanent Structured Cooperation for the security and defence). Billions of euros from the EU budget and the member states are given to armament programmes and military missions, in support of "preventive wars". At the same time, interventions in the internal affairs of other countries and especially the Middle East are continuing at the same pace and together with NATO consist the culprits for the creation of the huge refugee current in recent years.
EDON believes in the power and the struggling traditions of the peoples of Europe who can and must fight for a Europe of peoples, of workers, of solidarity, of social justice and of peace and not of monopolies. In view of the forthcoming European elections in May, we are sending out the message that the unity of the left in the European Parliament needs to and must be strengthened as it consists the only alternative to the neoliberal austerity policies imposed by the EU. We will work on the unity of the mass working, left and communist movement and to strengthen AKEL so as to maintain it as a leading force.
4. In these circumstances, the unity in class and anti-imperialist basis of the international movement is as never necessary. The working class, with the left at its forefront, has a duty to organize and lead the struggles.
Unfortunately, the Left today is even more heterogeneous and is globally in a defensive position, something resulting from the regression of the Communist Movement, following the dissolution of the community of socialist states. Nevertheless, the communist left can and must, in the current environment, be the vanguard of forces that are incompatible with injustice, imperialism and the one-ways of capitalism. International solidarity and the coordination of action between communist, progressive organizations and the anti-imperialist movement internationally are necessary. At the forefront of this fight must remain the World Federation of Democratic Youth.
These forces, and especially the Communist movement, can and must gather strong popular support by enlarging its lines and making good use of the potential of alliances with wider progressive movements. Together with the workers and the people, to maintain and strengthen the prospect of social transformation, while putting together proposals that meet the popular needs and shield the workers from capitalist exploitation and imperialist aggression.
The situation in Cyprus
5. The Cyprus issue is an international problem of invasion, occupation, colonization, foreign interventions and flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. It was and remains the product of imperialist plans. It is an encroachment on the human rights and civil liberties of the whole people of Cyprus. It's a matter of ethnic cleansing that was imposed by gun violence. The Cyprus issue is also a problem of smoothing relations between the two communities.
The struggle of our people for liberation and reunification is taking place in a difficult geopolitical environment of increasing imperialist aggression. An environment which leads to the prevalence of the benefit of the strong against the international law, thus affecting the interests of the people. The perpetuation of the problem is not at all irrelevant to modern competition in the wider region for geopolitical and economic control and to ensure access to energy resources.
6. The framework for a solution to the Cyprus issue, as set out in the high-level agreements 1977-79 and reaffirmed through the joint Christofias-Talat statements of 23 May and 1 July 2008, provides for a Bi-communal Bi-zonal federation solution with political equality, as set out in the United Nations resolutions. Solution of one state with one and single sovereignty, one international personality and one nationality.
With the election of Nikos Anastasiades in February 2013 and for a long period of two years, the attempt to find a solution was at a standstill. The process was clashing at the the negative attitude of the then leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu, but also in the refusal of Anastasiades to continue the talks from the point they had stopped.
When in the 2015 in the leadership of the T/C community emerged Mustafa Akkintzi, who decided to end the policies of Eroglu and said he would proceed with the convergences, Anastasiades essentially followed. At that time, progress began to be made in the talks even with regressions made by both sides.
Through the progress of the negotiations, we were led to an intensification of the effort in Mod Peleran, Geneva and ending at the Crans Montana Conference. Our sole concern throughout the Conference at Crans Montana in the summer of 2017 as the Left was to support as much as we could the effort to achieve the decisive step forward for prospect of a solution.
The collapse of the negotiations in Crans Montana, mainly as a result of the Turkish attitude and the regressions of President Anastasiades, led the Cyprus problem to a dangerous stagnation. Then followed Turkey's illegal and provocative actions in the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus, the negative statements of the Turkish Cypriot leadership, as well as the report of the Secretary General of the UN which exonerated Turkey and blamed the responsibility of the shipwreck on both sides.
President Anastasiades must clearly support the resumption of negotiations without terms and conditions. It has to be aligned with the line that the UN Secretary-General Gutierrez puts forward for the continuation of negotiations from the point where they were interrupted and based on his Conclusions Context. If the Turkish side responds positively, then we will continue negotiations. If not, the Turkish side will then bear the responsibility for any failure and will remain exposed to the international community.
7. EDON will continue to strive with all its might for a peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem within the framework of the United Nations and on the basis of the UN resolutions and the 1977 and 1979 High Level Agreements providing for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. For a solution that is in line with international law, international human rights conventions and European law. For a solution that provides for the withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and settlers and the demilitarization of the Republic of Cyprus. The ultimate goal remains the complete demilitarization of the island, with the dissolution of the British bases, a goal that will emerge from the unified anti-imperialist struggle of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. To restore the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, without giving any rights of intervention to any foreign country. Restore and safeguard the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, including the right of refugees to return to their homes and property.
EDON consistently supports the political equality of the two communities within the federation, as defined in the UN resolutions and which means effective participation in decision-making. EDON disagrees with the novel and dangerous positions of "loose - decentralized federation", "expanded negotiations" and "negotiations from zero point". These positions serve foreign interests and lead to the same end-result: partition.
For EDON, the possibility of introducing a clause that will establish NATO as a guarantor is non-negotiable. We are opposed to the recent introduction of Cyprus in PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation on Security and Defense) and to any attempt to join Cyprus in NATO or its branches, such as the Partnership for Peace.
8. During Demetris Christofias’ term we were led to the establishment of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the discovery of hydrocarbons, as well as to significant convergences in the negotiations on issues of marine areas, natural resources and the distribution of federal revenues. This has been a positive development that is included in the negotiating acquis and we look forward to it in benefiting our people, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. The extraction of hydrocarbons constitutes another powerful incentive for Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots to reach a solution soon to the Cyprus problem, so that in peace, security and prosperity the two communities can enjoy the benefits of the richness that nature has given to our country.
9. We condemn Turkey's occupation role and its oppressive behavior towards the Turkish Cypriot community as well as its unacceptable aggressive policies specifically targeting the progressive sections of the Turkish Cypriot community. We strongly condemn Turkey's continued efforts to alter the demographic character of the island through the influx of settlers from Turkey and the appropriation of land and property in areas not under the control of the Republic since the invasion of 1974 that violate international law. We condemn Turkey's unlawful and provocative actions aimed at obstructing the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus in the EEZ of Cyprus.
10. As EDON we will remain constant opponents of nationalism-chauvinism, obscurantism, fascism and extreme right-wing ideologies that poison the relations between the two communities. On the inner front we will continue the struggle against the forces of fatalism and americanism on the one hand and the forces of maximalist, nationalistic goals and aspirations on the other. We state that we will ditch the forces that want the counterfeiting of Cypriot history.
EDON addresses all our compatriots young Turkish Cypriots a warm, competing greeting of friendship, cooperation, brotherhood and common struggle for the solution and reunification of our homeland. EDON is committed to the policy of rapprochement and peaceful co-operation between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots and continues its struggles to deepen and expand this policy.
11. The political and social environment in which the Cypriot youth lives and operates is characterized by the negative phenomena associated with the current stage of development of the capitalist system in our country and the decisive influence of the imperialist New Order, the global capitalist crisis and the neoliberal policies of the EU.
Consequently, the Cypriot society, despite its peculiarities, does not differ significantly from the societies of developed capitalist countries. Particularly after the return of the right to power in 2013 and its re-election in 2018, many social problems have been aggravated since the management of the economy is in full harmony with the tried and tested pan-European reactive policies.
Previously, the Cypriot economy entered a deep recession as a result of the global capitalist crisis and worsened mainly due to the banking sector as a result of the absence of adequate and effective control by the supervisory authorities and of the criminal actions, mistakes and omissions from bank’s managers and administrations which have greatly damaged the Cypriot economy. The crisis has deteriorated dramatically following the Anastasiades-Eurogroup decisions in March 2013 to cover bank losses by haircutting bank deposits.
12. Today, socio-economic developments in our country were determined by the implementation of the memorandum, which was agreed with the troika by the Anastasiades government, and its continuation with a supervision programme. The philosophy of the memorandum and policies of the Government is based on the destructive triptych of austerity-privatisation-cuts. The implementation of the provisions of the memorandum led to the closure of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises, a sharp increase in unemployment in particular for young people, increased emigration, cuts in salaries, pensions and benefits, increased poverty for the Cypriot people, widening the gap between the few rich and the many poor and rip of the social state.
The image of the economic recovery, as presented by the Anastasiades government, cannot change the downhill of the country's social conditions. As EDON, we have no illusions that all the problems of society will be overcome with the end of the memorandum. The imposition of anti-popular measures and austerity policies will continue with or without a memorandum, part of the neoliberal philosophy of the government, the EU, the IMF, the World Bank and the European Central Bank.
The anti-popular socio-economic policies of the Government will be intensified through the promotion of the so-called structural reforms. In this context, the deregulation of labour relations, the firesale of Cooperative Bank, the privatization and closure of semi-public organizations, housing foreclosures, reactive changes in education, the rip of public health and the plans to sell the sector to private interests etc.
13. The Left, with EDON at its forefront, must be in constant struggle to prevent the application of other anti-popular and anti-labour measures that razed other peoples in Europe and now flatten our own. Policies, which prove unable to solve problems, but exacerbate them.
In today's conditions and at the current stage of the struggle of our people, EDON together with the popular movement are struggling to build a modern state in which economic growth and social well-being will be in harmony. The main prerequisite is the exit from the Memorandum’s policies and the radical reorientation of the priorities, so that the various measures are aimed at wealth. Where a fairer distribution and redistribution of the wealth created by society will be promoted. Where there will be a division of financial burdens depending on the income and the economic status of each. Where there will be a more humane and socially sensitive state that will protect and support the economically vulnerable strata of society. Where no worker will be unprotected and victim of arbitrariness and exploitation.
The situation of the Cyprus Youth Movement
14. Considering the current socio-political context, it is also important to note the great diversity that emerged with the rise of Nikos Anastasiades and DISY to the government of the country, which led to attacks to the rights of the people, especially those of the younger generation. Thousands of young people have been driven to immigration, others are living under the vow of unemployment, and those who work are paid ‘hunger wages’.
The social system shapes "fake consciousness," cultivates illusions, and often manages to succeed in the social demobilization of young people who are, as a social group, the most prone to influence. The above, coupled with the huge deadlocks of the capitalist system, lead a large portion of the youth to distance themselves from politics, parties and organized struggle, without being able to explain - rather superficially - their particular stance, with the majority pretending to be generalizing: "You are all the same". The result of this social context is the growing antisocial behaviour of a part of the youth, manifested in a violent and socially unacceptable way, but often with self-destructive behaviours such as the use of dependencies etc.
Despite all the pressure felt by the youth of Cyprus, it generally retains the characteristics of questioning, spontaneity, tendency towards everything new and retains radical and progressive elements and acts as a vector of social change.
Youth participation in mass youth organizations, such as student and university organizations, is important. At the same time, it is even more important to engage young people in the ranks of our organization.
15. For EDON, education is a non-negotiable, public social good that must be offered free of charge to all and geared towards creating a modern, democratic and human school at the heart of which are students and their real needs. Our vision continues to be the creation of a school that fights against inequalities and provides educational opportunities to all children regardless of the financial capacity of their families.
The election of DISY-Anastasiades in 2013, can only be described as a back-up for public education, since the modernization and reform process that was designed under the rule of Tassos Papadopoulos, with the decisive contribution of AKEL and which began to be implemented during the government of Demetris Christofias, was overthrown violently. Both Primary, Special and Secondary Education have long been blamed for an unprecedented crisis created by the DISY Government with its sole responsibility. The current government insists on behaving arrogantly by victimizing both students and teachers.
As EDON, we have stressed for years the need to design a radical educational reform that includes the structures and the way schools work as well as the content of education. The Anastasiades government not only broke the course of progressive educational reform but also proceeded with reactive policies through the promotion of new regulations governing schools and new timetables and curricula. At the same time, the DISY government not only advances in the conservatism of education but promotes it with elation and authoritarianism without a trace of consultation with the organized bodies of education.
The recent implementation of the new school regulations and measures against teachers clearly demonstrated the government's goal, which is no more than the creation of an exam-focused school where pupils will be consumed in a continuous hunt for grades without critical thinking and without receiving holistic education, necessary for every person in contemporary social reality.
16. After 24 years, the institutionalization of free school action and expression in schools is seen as an imperative necessity. The question of safeguarding the democratic rights of students is indissolubly linked to the formation of people criticized for the world around them. The action of Student Organizations, in addition to the work on student elections, extends to other forms of action, increasing the degree of politicization among students. An important role in this process is the Pancyprian Unified Student Organization (PEOM), the trade union expression of EDON for students, which is still at the forefront of the effort to create a truly organized, massive and contending Student Movement.
17. A correct and anthropocentric higher education is one of the most important social, economic, cultural and political parameters for the progress of the people. EDON has as a vision Universities that will be at the centre of its attention the human beings. A University that will perceive itself as a Public Educational Institution at the service of social needs. We want a university that is human and democratic, public and truly free for all, to promote scientific knowledge and academic research. Promote research based on scientific knowledge, not entrepreneurship, as yet another social organization that serves youth, our people in general and their needs.
In the efforts made in the field of higher education at European level in the direction of subordination of education to the needs of Capital, we put forward our own vision for Universities. Opposing pursuits to bankrupt the content of studies by breaking the course, we aim at undergraduate curricula complete, delivering comprehensive scientists with general education and a developed social criterion. People who can cope altogether with the demands of life and not with specialized, socially uneducated people. We want the University to be oriented towards creative interaction with society and to listen to its needs.
18. The election Anastasiades in 2013 brought significant changes to the setting of higher education, which also greatly affects the work of our organization in the youth movement. The reduction of students who choose to study, although retained to some extent, still suffers, with a negative impact on Student Unions, but also on student factions operating in the study area. During the last three years, the focus of the student movement continued to be in Cyprus and secondarily in Greece and Britain.
19. Our choice of full support for the mass organisations of the student movement (Student Unions - POFEN) has been and remains the primary objective of our forces in the student movement. In view of the well-understood interests of the organized Cypriot Student Movement and with the sole criterion of the objective of a healthy, autonomous, united, contending student movement, the only option was (and remains) the support with all our forces of POFEN.
The further deepening of the co-operation between the forces supporting POFEN is imperative in order to maintain the student movement in its contending course so far.
20. Young people who serve their term in the National Guard are called upon to carry out a difficult and important mission within the conditions of semi-detachment in Cyprus. Since the previous Congress, the military service is reduced from 24 to 14 months. The operation of the National Guard, despite all the positive steps that have taken place over the last several years in relation to its conditions, continues to be characterized by elements that are not in line with the general level of social development.
Particularly in a semi-detached country, the military service should be based on the love of a united Cyprus, peaceful and free, and not around a nationalistic ideas, chauvinistic slogans and hatred of anything foreign.
21. Young Workers are the part of the youth movement, which is confronted directly with capitalistic production relations and the laws that form the capitalist system. The hardness of the system and the inability to meet real social needs is strongly reflected in young workers, who are at a stage of life where securing work and housing are priorities.
Young workers are called to cope in a context of the development and reproduction of social problems such as unemployment, wage cuts, downsizing, flexible working hours, work on Sundays and holidays, difficulty in securing housing.
We realise a serious weakness in the effort we make to bring a large proportion of young workers and new unemployed into the life and activities of the organization. In cooperation with the class trade union movement, we must give the struggle for a collective organization that will claim for young workers and the formation of class consciousness.
22. Unemployment is a phenomenon inherent in this system and is dictated by the objective action of the laws governing capitalist production. Particularly today, unemployment has become permanent and therefore structural. Exclusion from work of an ever-increasing number of people and especially young people leads fatally to the sharp increase in crime, marginalization of youth, suicide, drugs, and racism.
We are urging the decoupling of the retirement age from life expectancy, but also the gradual reduction of retirement limits. We are uplifting against the exploitation of young workers and we are opposing the status of the work of service buying, that the employers apply but unfortunately the state as well, status that promotes the uninsured work and the deregulation of the working relations. We are also opposing the free internship which enhances the exploitation of students and leads to the concealment of jobs by the employers' side.
We express our solidarity with the unemployed and especially with young people and their families. We invite them to organize themselves with EDON in our struggle for the right to work and work with rights.
23. Although housing is an essential social good and whose primary responsibility to ensure housing is the state. The lack of a proper and comprehensive policy addressing the problem for decades has led to a worsening of exerting pressure, particularly among young people.
Meanwhile, the outbreak of the global capitalist crisis in recent years, the banking crisis and the rise in property prices led to the problem in alarming proportions, so young couples cannot have essentially the opportunity to acquire their own housing, and the possibility of rental is almost impossible considering the excessively high prices prevailing in urban centres.
24. Merit is the selection and utilization of people with the most and better skills in various sectors of the society. Since its establishment, the Republic of Cyprus has been a state structured in terms of conservativeness, the establishment and the right-wing agenda. The deep state came to reinforce the ten-year rule of the right wing (1993-2003), which unfortunately increased unequal and unfair employment, the remorselessness, the attitude of easy profit, while imposing the fragmentation of the public sector and mismanagement to the maximum extent. These phenomena have become a social scourge, which has the effect of enhancing sepulchres and corruption in Cypriot society, phenomena which - especially in semi-subsistence - are jeopardizing not only the future of our society but also our country. Unfortunately, these phenomena are repeated by the government of Nikos Anastasiadis from 2013 until today.
As EDON, we believe that a great struggle, without swinging and halving, is needed in order to bring about qualitative change, without of course having the illusion that such phenomena, inherent in the capitalist system, can be eliminated in the given socio-economic conditions.
25. Since the founding of Cyprus Youth Board (ONEK), EDON has been leading the way to become a challenge for the mass movement of youth to strengthen its voice and participation in the various decision-making centres. However, ONEK cannot substitute for the mass movement of the youth and not compete with it. The Youth Board was set up to co-shape and implement integrated and sometimes specialized youth policies addressed by young people that will help to tackle problems directly and effectively.
As EDON, we completely disagree with the philosophy and substance of the World Bank's suggestions as to the nature of the Youth Board. The fields of activity of ONEK as defined by the legislation and the experience so far, are valued positively by the state itself (successive governments, parliament etc.) as well as by the Cypriot youth. Margins of improvement, of course, always exist. And as EDON we fight daily within and outside ONEK, without losing ONEK’s character as defined above with the main concern that young people be brought to the fore, with their social role upgraded..
26. For us, as a political youth organization of the Left, culture is a special feature of society and reflects the level of its historical evolution. It is an expression of the relationship of man to nature and society and a specific expression of the development of the creative powers and abilities of the individual. The mission of culture, in our view, should be the creation of critically-minded people, their education and their contribution to social progress. We perceive culture as an element that shapes the spiritual, material and ethical values of people, their aesthetic criteria, their models, their attitude towards other peoples. EDON is driven by the character and ideology of the effort to transform culture into a vital lever of political and social upheaval, to promote an authentic lifestyle and a model of man that will create life, will claim tomorrow and fight for a better future.
The Anastasiades-DISY government has despised people in the arts and culture, degraded culture in general, and no pre-election commitment has been implemented. At the same time, and despite the fact that the government was committed not to reduce spending on Culture, it made significant cuts in the funds (over 30%). The young artists, who, while graduating with dreams, aspirations and enthusiasm for work, are also the biggest victims of the government's hard austerity policies, are unemployed or forced to make discounts on the quality of their work.
27. The development of sporting activities for young people makes a significant contribution to the creative use of leisure time, the complete development of their personality, their physical and mental health, the cultivation of their skills and their character through the development of noble competition. It contributes to the development of resistance against the scourge of drugs and other addictions, violence and crime, but also the massive subculture that overwhelms young people. It cultivates consciousness with universal values, develops co-existence and solidarity between people. For EDON, sport is a popular right, which everyone should be able to easily access. We fight and require the state to broaden the conditions for mass training for young people. At the same time, we believe in the need to cultivate and develop racing sports, which contributes to the visibility of our country with international sports successes and participations.
The legislation ‘for violence in sports’ venues’ emits a highly repressive philosophy, promotes withhold of citizen’s information, undermines the risks of serious economic exploitation and generally multiplies the problems without actually dealing with violence, since it simply transfers the problem out of the stadiums. Unfortunately, the legislation is already implemented and we are forced to continue the struggle for its abolition.
28. Creative use of leisure time is a prerequisite for the correct and multifaceted development of the personality of each new individual. Apart from sports and culture, tourism is also a potential means for the holistic personality development of the individual. At the same time, the holiday season is necessary to allow people to rest, physically and mentally, from the exhausting rhythms of life imposed by capitalist society. In the current stage of capitalist development, even the self-evident right to a holiday is not for everyone. EDON treats holidays as a right that all young people and young people in Cyprus should have easy and cheap access to. At the same time, however, we consider tourism as a means of contact of young people with the achievements of the civilization of Cyprus, but also throughout the world and by extension as an educational tool.
29. The fight against addictions was and is one of the pillars of the organization's action. A scourge inherent in the socioeconomic system that we live in, as a result of the problems, the deadlocks and the insecurity that produces and reproduces the modern capitalist system among young people. In the system characterized by the commercialization of everything, it is a normal development to treat man as a consumable species, from which profit can be earned. A portion of youth is driven to seek substitutes for happiness, such as drugs, alcohol, and gambling, the inexorable use of the internet, addiction to electronic games, and manipulation of the artificial lifestyle. Drug trade is a part of capitalism and obeys the laws of this system. Our position to tackle the problem is based on a grid of measures to prevent - cure - social reintegration. EDON is opposed to the approaches to artificial separation between soft and hard drugs and their legitimacy. Efforts to tackle the problem go through the struggles to lift social inequalities.
30. Health is a basic right, public and social, which a state has the obligation to provide to its citizens. Public Health has been at the heart of the government's austerity policies, which has made significant cuts to the health budget. Cyprus is ranked in the EU's last post in health spending. We spend 2.6% of our GDP while the average in the EU is 7.2%. The picture currently seen in public hospitals shows that the health sector in Cyprus is facing major problems. Lack of staff, medicines, technical and hardware equipment, are some examples of state hospitals.
As EDON, we stress the need for a public and free health to meet the needs of the people and youth. Unfortunately, the current government did not have the political will to implement the roadmap resulting from the vote on the GHP bill passed in 2017, with the result that thousands of our fellow citizens, including young people, would not have access to decent medical care.
It is obvious that the government does not treat Health as a basic social good to support with the necessary funds so that the autonomy of public hospitals can proceed more rapidly. They need their support to be able to withstand the demands that will result from the implementation of the General Health Plan. The public sector will be the backbone and therefore needs to be supported.
31. Young people coming from the economically weaker classes of the population are particularly prone to the phenomenon of delinquency. This confirms the class character of the phenomenon and demonstrates that the general characteristics of capitalism, such as economic inequality, social injustice, the absence of equal opportunities in the life of young people and alienation, are the underlying cause of such phenomena. For EDON, the most important contribution to tackling juvenile delinquency is the inclusion of young people in organized life and struggle, through the ranks of the Organization itself.
32. In the name of capitalist development, there is a perceived global exploitation of natural resources, which has been intensified in recent years due to the economic crisis. An exploitation that serves first and foremost the interests of capital and imperialist powers that violate basic environmental considerations such as the marine environment and the ecosystem. The dramatic climatic changes and the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the increase in global warming, the rise in sea level and so many other things happening every day around us, are constantly sending their own signal of danger. Unfortunately, in Cyprus, the environment is sacrificed on the altar of "growth" and the growth of the profits of some, with the support of the Government. The many violations of the Republic of Cyprus' obligations towards the Natura 2000 protected areas and the government's inability to develop an integrated management plan for the protection of these areas further aggravates the problem. "Among the many and dangerous violations are the blatant violations in Skouriotissa and Mathiatis with gold and cyanide extraction issues."
33. EDON rejects and strives against the ideology of racism and opposes all its forces, policies and practices that dictate or support racism and nationalism. This stems from our ideology and character and is a historic task for us and responsibility for the future. We fight for equality and equal treatment of all, regardless of gender, race, color, language, religion and sexual orientation.
Racism is produced and reproduced by the capitalist system and has clear class content. It is exploited by the ruling class in its attempt to dissuade workers from class struggle against their common enemy, capital. The right to work with rights does not deprive the local employee of the foreign worker, but the employer.
Today, racism is rampant, and through various far-right organizations, it claims political expression and political role, when it is obvious and sometimes disguised. At times when societies face acute economic and social problems, they try to cultivate the notion that "everything is alienated by foreigners" and rely on the consequences that the economic crisis has created to victimize immigrants. EDON not only does not share, but also fights such attitudes and perceptions.
At the same time, institutions such as the education system and the media should foster the development of a culture of acceptance of diversity rather than the production or reproduction of racist or hostile to foreign messages. The pursuit of these people should be the integration with the Cypriot society, not their alienation. As Cypriots we must not forget that many of our compatriots have been and are being forced to emigrate in order to create better living conditions for them and their families."
Multiculturalism is a social wealth for our country. Young immigrants are an important part of the working youth, with problems and cultural heritage. In cooperation with the class trade union movement, to intensify our contact and action in the new immigrants. We express our solidarity with both migrants in Cyprus and Cypriots who emigrate abroad.
34. The policy of discrimination on grounds of gender or sexual orientation has been and remains unacceptable. For us, people's right to choose their sexual orientation is fully respected. In modern conditions it is the attitude of conservative circles, such as the Church, who treat LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) as unjustified and not as equal. For us, people are judged based on their class and conscience rather than their sex or sexual orientation. We believe that the education system should develop a culture of acceptance of the choice of sexual orientation. We consider as a positive step the institutionalization of the cohabitation agreement for homosexual and heterosexual couples. In addition, we consider it important that the state carry out campaigns to combat stereotypes and prejudices against LGBT people. In this context, we are struggling to tackle discrimination against these people and to guarantee the right to legal recognition of gender identity.
35. Women's social position has improved over the last decades, and this is mainly due to the struggles of the women's movement and, more broadly, the People's Movement. However, the woman is called upon to fulfill many roles, such as that of her husband, mother and worker, in a hostile environment, within a system based on inequality and exploitation. The economic crisis and the policies implemented by the Government and the EU cause a back turn to the position of the woman. Unemployment, flexible forms of employment, unequal pay, blackmail and dismissal due to pregnancy, violence against women, gender segregation, violence against the female population and, above all, young women. As an organization, it is necessary to contribute with our own strengths by reinforcing the POGO women's movement and to show decisively and in its real dimension the class character of the woman's issue by linking it to the modern problems of the young working woman.
36. Young people have an essential role to play in local communities for issues that concern them directly (culture, sports, education, social problems, etc.) as well as general issues (urban planning and infrastructure, environment, European programs etc.). EDON is called on to continue its efforts to achieve active participation of young people in local government processes. In addition, beyond the institutions, we are called upon to develop action and offer at local level.
37. As EDON, we believe that the opportunities offered by the internet should be put to the needs of people as well as any scientific progress. These possibilities, within the current social context, are normally used primarily by the ruling class for youth manipulation. The main problem lies in the fact that the majority of users are not aware of the dangers posed by the misuse of the internet. Safe use of the internet can provide information and knowledge, which today takes a long time to find. That is why, as EDON, we think our education system is extremely important to provide young people with the necessary knowledge to use the internet safely.
Structure of EDON.
38. The foundation of EDON's entire structure is the Local Organization (L.O.), which is active in the community, district, school, workplaces, schools and universities. A local mass organization that operates in different directions, as much as anyone else embraces and can be embraced by young people, channel the youth's willingness to participate and act collectively. EDON's constant aim is to increase local organizations, systematically operate them and massive participation of the members of the Organization in the life and activity of L.O. In the current conditions of accelerating both the attacks against the Left, and the problems of the new generation due to the capitalist crisis, EDON's good organizational status is more pressing.
The objective of the previous 18th Conference was on organizational restructuring and massification of our members, this has not been achieved so far, as the decline we faced in the three-year period of 2013-16 has led to a gradual transfer of problems from Department to Department. Nevertheless, there are signs of stabilization of the number of our members from 2016 until today at the 19th Congress.
39. The Local Organization and at its level of operation is EDON supporting its steady and systematic action, the realization of its goals and the exploitation of the supply of an increasing number of its members. The constant pursuit of the proper functioning of our Local Organizations is of particular importance.
The Local Committee, which guides the action of the Local Organization from a General Assembly to a General Assembly, should meet frequently and regularly and take care of the implementation of the plan of activities and the involvement of EDON members in the work. Indispensable prerequisite is the taking of initiatives by local executives.
Provincial Councils, and in particular Provincial Secretariats, should be ready to provide concrete assistance to Local Organizations and to constantly monitor them, guiding them rather than substituting them. Control and support of our work should also be done by the Central Secretariat to the Provincial Organizations.
A prerequisite for this is the adequate staffing of the steering bodies with members of the Organization that have the political and organizational capabilities.
40. The role of EDON's governing bodies in achieving the objectives and the orderly functioning of the Organization is crucial and that is why they should always keep their contact with the base alive.
The guiding bodies, to be able to guide the work of the Organization, developed at all levels and in different directions, need to listen to the pulse of youth, the timeliness of its problems, its quests and concerns, so that it is right evaluation of the objectives and action undertaken by the Organization.
41. The nature and character of EDON requires frequent renewal so it is necessary in the long run to plan for renewal and reinforcement with new leaders of the steering forces and local organizations. Engaging young people in the day-to-day activity of the Organization and the fermentation in the field of struggle for solutions to problems, are prerequisites for creating the objective basis on which we can support the policy of appointing members.
We need to strengthen the links and the organizational relationship of the L.Os. the Student, the Student and the Young Workers, so that in the transfer from one section to another, not only do we have no losses of forces, but we can achieve the strengthening and massification of our lines in the L.O. as well as EDON in general.
42. The registration of a new member in EDON is an act primarily political. It is an action that connects a youth member with the political youth organization of the Left, EDON.
The success of our Organizational Excursion at the beginning of the academic year is the basis for fulfilling our goals for the rest of the year. Particularly, when it comes to an organization with the character of EDON, whose massiveness, the support of the Organization at its base, the involvement of each member in the work and the ability to reach every single young person is primarily an ideological choice. The dialectical relationship between quantitative and qualitative in organizational excursion is the component of success.
43. The Pancyprian Movement of EDONpoula (young pioneers), through its multi-faceted action aimed at children aged 6-13, aims at educating children with the ideals of democracy, equality, peace and social justice. It aims to cultivate a sense of solidarity and friendship among the peoples of the world.
Unfortunately, the way in which Cypriot society evolves, influenced by the global socio-economic situation, deprives children of the basic conditions to live a truly creative childhood. The promotion of individualism, racism and xenophobia, the commercialization of education and entertainment, are cultivated in different ways among children through their social environment.
The organization must continue to prioritize the massification of our children's movement. This will be achieved through the enrichment of its action, but mainly through better cooperation with our clubs and the wider People's Movement, as well as with the development of action that addresses and has an impact on the local community.
The Organization's goal is to set up Local Movements in all provinces, everywhere and where the necessary conditions exist. In addition, the aim should be to disseminate the character and the action of the Pancyprian Movement of EDONpoula (pioneers) , in all parts of the Organization.
44. School is one of the most important places where ideological-political confrontation and interaction on various issues are a predominant element in everyday life of all involved. This allows a continuous and dramatic effect on their consciousness. These data make the presence of T.K. EDON in schools is essential to be able to get a sense of the situation in schools and to be able to organize cinematics on the other. Our presence and intervention are ensured through the existence of EDON Local Organizations in schools, while at the same time promoting the Pancyprian Unified Student Organization, the student trade union movement of the Left.
An important effort was made in intensifying our work at the political - educational level, as well as in the direction of upgrading and promoting the activities of PEOM, both inside and outside the school, as well as online. PEOM is still a pole of convergence of the progressive forces among the student world.
Our student members are EDON's voice in every school. Therefore, the goal of our daily work must be to create the conditions for political and organizational responsibilities of our members in schools. Our unwavering goal is also the active participation of more members of EDON in the trade union faculties, acting as the expressers of the real interests of the student world, whereby the actions and undertaken is to enhance the prestige, efficiency, dynamics and dignity of the student movement.
45. The creation of the EDON Student Department was in 1992 and the operation of Local Organizations at the base of the study area was a necessary decision, due to the rapid growth of Higher Education and the continuous increase of students. It remains the most massive part and at the same time EDONs’ Provincial Organization, along with L.O. in Cyprus, Greece, England and other European countries. It continues to play a decisive and prominent role in the developments concerning the student movement, they are giving this fight, in very negative socio-economic situation for students, because of the policies of the Anastasiadis-DISY government over the last 6 years.
It remains the backbone of POFEN and the organized student movement, with our extensive trade union expression, the Progressive Students' Movement, was founded in 1974. The Progressive movement insists on involving thousands of people through its multifaceted political and cultural activity. The stabilization at high levels of our rates in several places of study as well as in the aggregate results is considered important, since it has a serious impact on the People's Movement and more broadly in society.
One of the biggest challenges faced by the Student Movement is the ideological and political education of the members. At the same time, the Student Movement has made a very significant improvement in the field of student participation in the life and activity of the Organization and the movement more widely. An unmistakable goal remains the continuous massification of the students' department lines.
46. The Young Workers Department is the newest part of our Organization that was created in 2010 and marked a series of changes in the organization. The objectives we set out for this Department were the massification of the presence of Young Workers in EDON's life and action, the establishment of a larger number of L.O. of Young Workers and the specialization in problems related to Young Workers.
Local Organizations have stabilized in numbers, despite the problems we faced after the 18th Pancyprian Congress. It seems that there is still a good way to achieve our goals for the Department's involvement in Local Government and society at large. The Department develops initiatives and campaigns but needs further improvement. To further strengthen the Department, we must further organize the transfer and association of graduates of the Student Department of the Organization to EDON Provincial Organizations after the completion of their studies. This effort still faces very serious problems. The fact remains that we are unable to integrate into the Organization a very important part of the youth who are directly involved in the job market.
The goal continues to be the operation of L.O. of Young Workers either locally or on a clustered basis without this being the ideal one. Efforts and hard work should continue in order to rebound, also to increase our L.O. and action and overcome the problems created by the crisis.
The organizational support and recovery of the Department remains the case, as this will add to the action of the District Organizations. There is plenty of scope for involving more Young Workers in EDON's work. The Young Workers' Teams should become places for fermentation, educational and ideological work, areas of concern for young people and a springboard of struggles and aspirations for young people in each region. At the same time, the Department needs to strengthen its contact with young people who emigrate abroad and to create L.O. wherever possible.
47. The Festivals Movement is the expression of EDON's cultural and political intervention in social affairs. Undoubtedly, EDON's Festivals have been established in the consciousness of our young people and our people as the top political, cultural and social event, full of humanity and dignity. It is an institution that nourishes and maintains its dynamics from the all-human visions, values and ideals that inspire and guide EDON. They are a powerful counter-attack mechanism against the mass subculture.
48. Broad activity is an integral part of the organization's activity and is related to the field of culture and the wider youth entertainment sector. The broad activities include festivals, concerts, political and artistic events, sports tournaments and championships, theatrical performances, excursions, parties, bouat events, film screenings, preservation of musical, dance, theatrical and so on. EDON aims to actively involve young people in the arts, culture, giving a creative outlet to their concerns, interests and needs. At the same time, however, the broad activity with the possibility of providing the Organization with mass contact with young people is a particularly important mechanism for direct and indirect political-ideological influence on a broad youth strata.
49. For decades the People’s Movement clubs have been a beacon of cultural, sporting and political activity and creation. Nowadays, their activity is seriously degraded. Unfortunately, the absence of youth from the clubs remains apparent. The infrastructure and the way our clubs operate, as cafes for the most part, cannot attract youth. Young people have many other options to spend their time in leisure activities, such as youth cafes or local youth spots.
On the other hand, where youth-oriented clubs have been set up and cultural groups and other thematic groups (dance, music, theater, team and individual sports, etc.) are active, there is a youth involvement. Unfortunately there are not many examples of such cases.
On the basis of the above conclusions, and recognizing the extremely important role that our sports-cultural clubs should have, as the most important link between the People's Movement and local communities, it is imperative that practical and achievable measures be taken.
50. Ideological work is only meaningful when transferred from theory to practice, enhancing the organizational and political work of the Organization.
The upgrading of EDON's educational and ideological work is a prerequisite for creating a strong foundation to support EDON's struggle and its continuation. In a world of contradictions and complexities, with the dominant ideology being reproduced more and more intensely, the ideological and cultural strengthening of the members of EDON is imperative.
Self-education, as a complement to the educational work of the Organization, is a basic lever of the ideological education of each member. With self-education and raising the ideological level, each member becomes more capable to counter the ideological attacks from the ruling class.
Our educational activity extends to the monitoring and analyzing of the current international politics, the history of the People’s Movement and the analysis of specialized youth-related issues.
51. EDON's presence in the world's leftist, progressive and democratic youth movement is based on two key political orientations. On the one hand, is the struggle for the solution of the Cyprus Issue. On the other hand, is the international solidarity, which derives from our ideological view that the Left should lead the active support of all peoples who struggle for freedom, independence, social prosperity, progress and Socialism.
Regarding the Cyprus Issue and the developments around it, the Organization seeks to keep our fraternal organizations informed, as well as all the international or regional organizations in which it participates. Of particular importance is the fact that, within the framework of the 19th World Youth and Students Festival held in Russia in 2017, our Organization presented the Cyprus Issue to the Festival's Anti-imperialist Court. At the level of international solidarity and international activity, the Organization participated in solidarity missions, anti-imperialist camps, conferences of youth organizations, European Communist Youth Meetings, as well as the General Council meetings of the World Federation of Democratic Youth - WFDY.
52. The main pillar of EDON’s international activity is its participation in WFDY. WFDY is recognized as the real expression of the progressive youth movement in the struggle against imperialism and war, for democracy, freedom, social progress and peace. WFDY has managed to recover to a great extent after the problems (political and organizational) that were presented in the 1990s and to develop a multifaceted and effective action in almost all continents.
EDON's election to the WFDY presidency since 2011 and its re-election in 2015 confirmed the appreciation the Organization has from all communist and leftist organizations and the youth anti-imperialist movement in general. EDON's offer to the presidency is judged to be quite satisfactory, particularly in regard to the effort in preserving WFDY’s character. Through the presence in the Federation's presidency, EDON assumes responsibility for continuing to coordinate the joint action of the over-130-member organizations worldwide. EDON has the duty to create the best possible conditions so that the efforts to reinforce WFDY will continue in the coming years. From the WFDY presidency, EDON contributes in the efforts to further internationalize the Cyprus Issue by promoting it to the hundreds of WFDY members.
The tradition of the World Festival of Youth and Students is the biggest event in the anti-imperialist struggle of the new generation. During the 19th WFYS (as in the 18th) EDON was in the presidency of the Organizing Committee. This responsibility was a huge challenge for our organization because of the many issues we were called to manage. But we have managed to complete our duty with consistency and seriousness, reaching a successful festival with a great reach to and participation from the world youth and with several political and cultural activities.
53. The newspaper "Neolaia", that EDON publishes, has a long history. The newspaper has frequently changed its frequency of publishing, as well as its form, mainly due to the financial difficulties the Organization has faced from time to time. EDON remains the only political youth organization that regularly publishes a newspaper exclusively addressing young people.
Our aims for the newspaper "Neolaia" focus on two aspects. On the one hand, we aim at the upgrading and quality of the newspaper's content, the enrichment of the topics and the promotion of the organization's political positions and activities. On the other hand, we focus on disseminating it through our District Organizations so that it reaches more young people each time.
Our main concern should be to increase the circulation of our newspaper. Apart from the economic aspect, it is of enormous political importance for EDON that the newspaper reaches as many young people as possible. It is one of the few voices in Cyprus that counter the eroded media of today, by promoting qualitative proposals, positions and actions.
54. EDON’s camp consists one of the most important activity for two big departments of the Organization, the Students’ Department and the Children Movement of EDON. Every year we should lay the foundations so that the camp plays a decisive role in the ideological and political education of our student-members; in the creation of sensitivity and conscience in our pioneers (children members of the Children Movement of EDON); and in the strengthening of the bonds between our members and their bond with the Organization. At the same time, the camp should continue to offer EDON and its members the opportunity to spend creatively and productively their free time, through a number of cultural and athletic activities. We should also explore the possibility to have Turkish Cypriots, our compatriots, of all ages, participating in the camps of EDON, not just as visitors, but to actively participate in the programme and activities.
55. The 19th Pancyprian Congress is a milestone in the action of EDON, in order to gather up our forces and empower our organization. The congress will make EDON strong and massive in order to enhance the struggle of the progressive, leftist youth of Cyprus, aiming at achieving and realizing our visions. Our priority is the fight for the liberation and reunification of our homeland. Alongside this goal we continue, even more intensely, the struggle to improve the quality of life of the new generation. We have a clear view of the prospect to build a higher quality society. Which is none else than the society of democracy, freedom, social justice, equality, solidarity, of Socialism.
We are well aware that social change is going through the struggle for today. In the complex and hostile conditions of today, EDON will continue to stand strong and united, powerful and massive. We continue on the path of struggle for social justice and progress.
«A strong and mass EDON, empowers young people’s struggles»
JANUARY 2019, NICOSIA