Adopted on the 21st day of August 2006 at the SAE BOARD MEETING

The Board of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) unanimously adopted today a Resolution for Cyprus submitted by the President of the World Coordinating Committee οΏ½Justice for CyprusοΏ½ and SAE Vice-President, Coordinator for Cypriots Abroad, Mr. Philip Christopher.
The Resolution was adopted during the meeting of the SAE Board in Nicosia prior to the 15th Meeting of the Central Boards of PSEKA & POMAK that will take place on August 23-25,2006 also in Nicosia.
οΏ½This first meeting of the SAE Board outside Greece since our establishment in 1995, shows the unity and uniformity of Hellenic Associations around the world regarding a just and viable solution for Cyprus,οΏ½ SAE President Mr. Andrew A. Athens stated. οΏ½We are here to send the message that Hellenes around the world continue our efforts started in 1974 in support of the Governments of Hellas and Cyprus, and we are not willing to stop until we reach a solution.οΏ½
The full text of the Resolution follows:

WHEREAS, delegates to the SAE BOARD MEETING, a large number of whom are U.S. citizens have convened in οΏ½, Cyprus, between 20 and 22 August 2006, to discuss the current situation on the island,
WHEREAS, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus remains firmly committed to the solution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of its country on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal basis and in accordance with the norms and principles of the European Union,
WHEREAS, the U.N., the U.S., the E.U. and the entire international community support a solution to the Cyprus problem based on the implementation of the relevant United Nations resolutions,
WHEREAS, the Government of Turkey continues to illegally occupy almost 36 percent of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, is in gross violation of numerous resolutions of the United Nations and continues to violate the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Cypriot people, including those of the enclaved in the occupied area,
WHEREAS, the Government of Turkey continues to illegally settle people from Turkey in the occupied area of Cyprus, in order to permanently alter the demographic composition of the island,
WHEREAS, the Government of Turkey discriminates against the Republic of Cyprus by not extending the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU to include the Republic of Cyprus,
WHEREAS, the Government of Turkey consistently exercises its veto on a series of international organizations to prevent the accession of the Republic of Cyprus, thereby not abiding by E.U. policy,
WHEREAS, the illegal sale and exploitation of Greek-Cypriot property in the occupied area and the massively increased construction activity on such property, which has reached epidemic proportions, touches upon the sensitive issue of property settlement and imposes serious obstacles to any initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem,
RESOLVED:
WE REAFFIRM that the present status quo in Cyprus is unacceptable and that TurkeyοΏ½s military presence on the island is in flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions, including General Assembly Resolution 3212 (1974), which was unanimously adopted, including the positive vote of Turkey;
WE ASSURE the U.S. President that the Government of Cyprus is ready and willing to engage in direct and substantive negotiations to reach a lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation between the Greek-Cypriot and Turkish-Cypriot communities. Such a solution should be based on the relevant U.N. resolutions and in conformity with the values and principles upon which the European Union is founded;
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 the entire people of Cyprus for a common future within the European Union, without any third parties dictating their future;
WE WELCOME the Agreement of 8 July 2006 by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Tassos Papadopoulos and the leader of the Turkish-Cypriot community, Mr.  Mehmet Ali Talat, to begin a process immediately, involving bi-communal discussion of issues that affect the day to day life of the people and concurrently and more importantly those that concern substantive issues, both of which will contribute to a comprehensive settlement;
WE REGOGNISE that the current breakthrough in the preparation for substantive negotiations for a solution of the Cyprus problem was the result of the meeting of 28 February 2006 in Paris between the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the U.N. Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan;
WE WELCOME the agreement for the appointment of the third member of the Committee on Missing Persons and we urge the Government of Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriot leadership to offer their full and prompt cooperation for settling this issue of profound humanitarian nature, namely the investigation of the fate of the missing persons;
WE RECOGNISE that bilateral relations between the United States and the Republic of Cyprus must be further strengthened and enhanced;
WE EXPRESS disappointment that US policy, following the 24 April 2004 referendum, has not shown respect for the will of the overwhelming majority of Greek-Cypriots;
WE REQUEST the U.S. Government to reconsider its policy concerning the promotion of the ending of the so-called οΏ½isolationοΏ½ of the Turkish-Cypriots, as well as direct trade and flights to and from illegal airports in the occupied part of the Republic of Cyprus. The welfare and prosperity of all the people of Cyprus lie with the economic integration of the two communities and the unification of the economy of Cyprus, and not with the encouragement of separatist policies;
WE COMMEND the Government and the people of Cyprus for their pivotal role in the evacuation of the practical totality of U.S. citizens and those of third countries from Lebanon during the recent crisis;
WE BELIEVE that the recent crisis in Lebanon has demonstrated once again the strategic importance of Cyprus in stabilizing efforts in a volatile region and that Cyprus is a credible ally of the U.S. in the struggle against international terrorism;
WE CALL UPON the international community to impress upon Turkey to fulfill its obligations emanating from the United Nations Charter, the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in particular 541 (1983) and 550 (1984);
WE CALL UPON the Government of Turkey to fulfill its obligations towards the European Union by immediately ratifying and implementing fully and without discrimination the EU-Turkey Customs Union, to include the Republic of Cyprus;
WE CALL UPON the Government of Turkey to immediately and without further delay recognize and establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cyprus;
WE CALL UPON the Government of Turkey to align itself with E.U. policy and stop blocking the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to international organizations;
WE URGE the Government of Turkey to accept the proposal of the Government of Cyprus with regard to the opening of the Famagusta port under the auspices of the EU, together with the return of the town of Varosha to its lawful inhabitants and the establishment of a moratorium in the illegal exploitation of Greek-Cypriot property in the occupied part of Cyprus;
WE URGE the immediate and unconditional implementation by Turkey of the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights that found Turkey responsible for the continuous violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of Greek-Cypriots, such as the decisions of the Fourth Interstate Case of Cyprus v Turkey, the Case of Loizidou v Turkey and other relevant individual cases;
WE URGE the immediate and unconditional implementation by Turkey of all United Nations resolutions on Cyprus, calling for the withdrawal of its occupation troops and the repatriation of the illegal settlers, the return of all refugees to their homes in safety, the restoration of human rights and fundamental freedoms to all Cypriots, the full and effective investigation of the fate of the missing persons and the return of the city of Varsosha to its lawful inhabitants;
WE REASSURE you, Mr. President, of our strong commitment, constructive cooperation and goodwill towards justice and peace in Cyprus.