This platform established after Istanbul Conference held in 26-29 December 2006 , organised by KIBES - KTDD - KGP
 

Press Release of the ‘United Cyprus Platform’

Acknowledging that a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem should be found by the leaders of the two Cypriot communities, on the basis of the UN resolutions and the high level agreements, under the auspices of the UN and expressing our call for the immediate and  unconditional resumption of the intercommunal talks, We, the signatories coming from the Cypriot overseas NGO community, at our meeting in Istanbul on 27th December 2006, have united around the concern for lasting peace and a permanent solution to the Cyprus problem, and have decided to create a United Cyprus Platform.

Among others we have agreed on the following ideas:

• Demands concerning the daily life

1. We should abstain from any statement, act or measure that may hurt the people living in Cyprus. Any sign, expression or picture that may fuel the enmity between the communities should be removed and any declaration and statement that may hurt each other should be immediately criticized.
2. Any statement that create enmity and prevent the establishment of a common future should be removed from school books. Common books on the Cyprus history, literature and culture should be published.
3. The passages between the north and the south should be facilitated and new passages should be established. The registration system should be abolished, the bridge and the wall in Ledra street should be demolished.
4. The sides should abstain from any meaningless searches and arrests, under different pretexts, which may cause discontent and enmity.
5. A direct tele-communication system between the north and the south should be established.
6. All legal signboards, road signs and legal documents should be in three languages. The original historical names of roads, places, villages and towns should be used.
7. The communities should be encouraged to learn each other’s language. Besides teaching Greek and Turkish at workshops organized in the buffer zone, handcraft courses that will support our common culture should be initiated and common cultural, artistic and economic activities should be organized.
8. Programs of television channels should be subtitled in the other side’s language, and the establishment of bi-communal television and radios should be encouraged.
9. Open university courses emphasizing on issues of “Peace culture” and “mutual understanding” should be established.
10. Cultural, religious and historical places should be protected and restored. The people should have the right to use freely these places.
11. In the whole of Cyprus, every person’s freedom to education and worship should be secured and protected.
12. Common initiatives of youth organizations should be encouraged.
13. To make the new generation come together, there should be excursions between the schools and the communities should encourage exchanges and hosting each others children.
14. Arts & culture, books & magazines that familiarize the two communities and serve understanding and friendship should be encouraged.
15. Symbolical peace forests should be created and memorial parks of peace should be opened, particularly in the buffer zone, to commemorate the Cypriots who died for defending peace in their common country.
16. The buffer zone should be activated by promoting cultural, economic and other activities.
17. In order to deal with the pains of the past, a public rehabilitation program should be established and implemented.
18. Coordination of bi-communal initiatives should be established and encouraged.

• Demands concerning confidence building measures

1. Confidence building measures should be encouraged such as opening of Varosha, as stated in the relevant UN resolution, the start of commerce according to the EU Green Line regulation, the use of the Famagusta port, etc.
2. A moratorium on the sale and construction on each other’s land should be established until the time of a comprehensive solution is reached to the Cyprus problem.
3. The efforts of disposal of land and sea mines should continue in the buffer zone and sea passages.
4. Until a complete demilitarization is achieved military practices should be organized out of sight of the peoples and the two sides should abstain from any military force shows.

• Demands concerning humanitarian issues

1. The problem of the missing persons should be immediately resolved.
2. Health matters should be addressed immediately and no obstacles should be put whatsoever.
3. The right to work and social security should be guaranteed for all.
4. The issue of the settlers should be dealt exclusively through the humanitarian aspect and any new settlement should not be allowed.

The United Cyprus Platform will create a new website in order to announce every initiative for the realization of these demands, to provide mutual communication and to be a center where new proposals would be submitted. The Platform will realize these demands with the help of initiatives in Cyprus and with the cooperation of the NGOs operating in Cyprus and elsewhere.

The presence of representatives of political parties in our conference assisted us in understanding their approaches, and to make them aware of our initiative.

We initiated the first step and established a platform of common struggle. We shall work with consensus and respect to each other. Our work starts now. We dream for a united Cyprus in peace and we know that our dream will be materialized.

The coordination committee of the United Cyprus Platform:

1. Kıvanç Diren, Ophthalmologist, İstanbul, Secretary general of Cypriots Science Education Health and Solidarity Association (KIBES).
2. Sarper Övsay, Dentist, İstanbul, Chairman of KIBES.
3. Hasan Raif, Civil Engineer, London, Chairman of Turkish Cypriot Democratic Associaition (KTDD).
4. Georgios Michailidis, Mechanical Engineer, Athens, Secretary general of Federation of Cypriot Organization in Greece (OKOE).
5. Kakkulis Theodoulou, General Surgeon, Athens, Chairman of association of Cypriot Scientists (SKE) in Greece.
6. Neşe Yaşın, Poet – Academician, Nicosia.
7. Agni Hassabi, İnterpreter, Berlin, Advisor to the Cyprus German Forum (DFZ).
8. Tümer Mimi, Computer Scientist, Melbourne, Australian Peace initiative.
9. Chrysostomos Demetrıou, Mechanical Engineer, Athens, Secretary general of Union of Cypriot Refugees (EKPE).
10. Emrah Günen, Student, İstanbul, Chairman of Cyprus Youth Platform (KGP).
11. Stavros Polyviou, Medical Doctor, Patras, Chairman of OKOE Youth.