CYPRIOTS’ VOICE addresses the following announcement to the authorities and the people of Cyprus:

CYPRIOTS’ VOICE: Joining efforts towards solution
Decision of Meeting: 21-22 Nov. 2009

The Cypriots’ Voice Bi-communal Forum, having convened (21-22 Nov. 2009) and having considered the renewed interest of the international community in a Cyprus settlement as well as the need for joint action aiming to support and push forward the ongoing negotiation process, have reached the following conclusions:

1. We reiterate the consensus we reached on 13 September 2009 on the parameters of a federal solution including: the new state of affairs, the renewed partnership, political equality, governance, properties, territory, settlers, and guarantees.

2. We declare our full support to any efforts of the two leaders to reach an early solution and call upon them to further intensify their effort and try to convince their communities that a settlement will bring about mutually beneficial results.

3. We support rotational presidency to be elected by universal suffrage through weighted cross-voting. This will encourage politicians to take into consideration the needs of the other community as well.

4. We call upon the government of Turkey to apply in Cyprus as well the new approach of zero problems with its neighbours and contribute in practical ways towards a solution compatible with UN resolutions and the principles on which the European Union has been founded.

5. We call upon Turkey, Greece, and Britain, to coordinate their effort, in cooperation with the leaders of the two communities, aiming to reach an understanding on the guarantee issue that would be compatible with the European framework and would meet the security needs of both communities.

6. We call upon the two leaders to seriously consider suggestions by honest brokers such as the UN and the EU on issues on which they find it difficult by themselves to reach consensus.

7. We support economic integration and interdependence of the two communities. This will prepare the ground to reach a settlement and will decisively contribute in sustaining it.

8. We appreciate the fact that the two leaders have, for the first time in the long history of negotiations, publicly declared that they have agreed on most aspects of governance. They may trust that we will stand by them provided they proceed in the right direction.

9. We call upon the two leaders to help create mechanisms within the framework of a solution to deal with the pain and suffering of both communities. In this regard, they should invite the contribution of civil society organizations working on “Truth and Reconciliation” as well as on local expertise on such issues.

10. We appreciate the work being done by bi-communal civil society groups which promote mutual understanding and call upon them to coordinate their effort in this direction.

NOTES: Cyprus EU Association