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Unions unite behind peace efforts

TRADE unions PEO and DEVIS gave a vote of confidence today to President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat in view of Wednesday’s direct talks.

In a joint statement ahead of World Peace Day on September 1, the two unions said that the new process towards a settlement increased the chances for peace because the negotiators involved were Christofias and Talat, who came from two political movements which had fought for peace in Cyprus.

PEO and DEVIS “welcome the negotiations which begin September 3 in a positive atmosphere, created in March and hail the leaders’ efforts for a solution”.

They reconfirmed their commitment to a bizonal, bicommunal federal solution on the basis of UN decisions on Cyprus, two high level agreements, political equality and European principles.

“We believe that the most realistic solution that can be achieved is a united federal Cyprus, with a single personality, a single sovereignty and a single international personality”, the trade unions said.

The two trade unions will hold joint gatherings to mark September 1 and the 60th anniversary since the strikes that Greek and Turkish Cypriot mine workers held in 1948.

The women’s branch of the two unions will also hold a two-day symposium at Pervolia next month.



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