The World Federation of Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) meeting in Limassol has called on the international community to impress upon Turkey to fulfill its obligations under the UN Charter and relevant UN resolutions on Cyprus.
As a European Union candidate country, Turkey should be made to respect EU law as well, POMAK stressed.
In a resolution approved at its 14th World Congress, the Federation assured the UN Secretary General that the Government of Cyprus and the Greek Cypriots are ready and willing to engage in direct and substantive negotiations to reach a lasting settlement of the Cyprus problem.
It said this should take into full account the areas of concern of the Greek Cypriot community for the common good of all the people of Cyprus.
"We welcome the unwavering commitment of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to continue working for a solution that will meet the hopes and aspirations of both communities with a common future, without any third party dictating its future," the resolution said.
It added that the welfare and prosperity of the people of Cyprus lie with the economic integration of the two communities and the unification of the island’s economy, and not with the encouragement of separatist tendencies.
The resolution, addressed to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, drew attention to the continuing military occupation of 36% of Cyprus territory by Turkey, the violation of the human rights of the population, the presence of mainland Turkish settlers and the illegal sale of Greek Cypriot refugee property in the occupied areas.
The text was also sent to US President George Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as to the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada and Greece and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barosso.
Confident
Presenting the results of the Congress at a press conference in Nicosia, the POMAK leadership appeared confident about the role of expatriates’ organisations in informing international public opinion on the Cyprus problem.
POMAK President Haris Sophoclides said for the first time issues arising from the categorisation of expatriates between those living within the EU and outside it were discussed.
He expressed optimism that the British EU Presidency will maintain an impartial attitude on EU-Turkey relations in connection with the Cyprus problem.
Philip Christopher, President of the World Coordinating Committee for the Cyprus Struggle (PSEKA) noted that the gates of the US Department of State and the White House which were closed a year ago after the Greek Cypriot rejection of the Annan Plan, were opened again to the expatriates, "the hostile climate having been overturned."
He said the most important task awaiting them was countering the propaganda of the occupation regime about the so-called isolation of Turkish Cypriots and their recognition, "at a time when the Turkish lobby in the US was stronger than ever."
The President of POMAK Youth Menikos Kouvaros said the main problem facing them was to bring the new generation of expatriates close to the overseas organisations.
