Annan's revised Cyprus plan draws mixed reaction

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Annan's revised Cyprus plan draws mixed reaction

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The revised peace plan unveiled by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for Cyprus reunification met mixed reaction Monday, with the Turkish Cyprus being comparatively satisfied while the Greek side having complaints.

Annan submitted the plan as his last-ditch effort to clinch a deal satisfying both sides before Cyprus enters the European Union(EU) on May 1. Otherwise, the plan would be subject to separate referenda for both sides on April 20.

At a week-long summit, which brought representatives from Greece, Turkey, the Greek Cyprus and the Turkish Cyprus to the Swiss resort of Buergen stock to hammer out a final agreement, the Turkish delegation did not voice lots of complaints, because the revised plan met some of their demands.

Sources familiar with the summit said the revised plan ensured the Turkish Cypriots' rule over the north even if Greek Cypriots returned to the region.

It also trimmed down the number of Greek Cypriot refugees allowed to return to the north, from a previous 21 percent to 18 percent of the population of the Turkish Cyprus.

What's more, the Turkish troops were allowed to stay on the island forever, a great shift from Annan's previous request to withdraw all Turkish troops as soon as Turkey joins the EU. But the troops should still be gradually cut to 650 after Turkey's entry.

On the other hand, according to diplomatic sources, the Greek Cyprus complained the new plan stopped short of addressing some of its concerns while satisfying Turkish demands such as bizonality, ethnic division, settlers, properties and troops.

Kypros Chrysostomides, spokesman for the Greek Cyprus, said initial evaluation showed that the plan needs improvement, for "some of the issues which are very important for us were given to the other side."

Greece echoed the concerns of the Greek Cyprus over the plan, noting that there were many problematic elements. "From the first reading, we can say that there are some clear concerns," said Theodoros Roussopoulos, spokesman for the Greek foreign minister.

The concern is centered on issues such as movement of persons, capital and property.

MAIN PROVISIONS OF REVISED PLAN

The reaction from both sides came on the heels of Annan's announcement that he wanted feedback no later than Tuesday morning.

According to the semi-official Cyprus News Agency, Annan said that the UN would evaluate their reaction, adjust the draft text and finalize the proposal by March 31.

He stressed that this opportunity for a settlement could not beallowed to miss.

According to Annan's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, this plan is a proposal and not a take-it-or-leave-it final text which will go to referendum.

Termed by Annan as a "win-win proposal," the revised plan contains a main thrust for Cyprus to be governed under a loose federal system with a high degree of autonomy on domestic affairs for both communities.

The plan includes proposed federal laws of the United Cyprus Republic, 131 of them running to 9,000 pages, as well as a list of1,134 treaties binding the island, which Annan said is "unprecedented in the history of United Nations peacemaking."

The plan envisages that the number of 35,000 Turkish soldiers currently on the island will be reduced to 6,000 by 2011 while the same number is foreseen for Greece. The number for each side will be further reduced by 2018 to 3,000.

The land map in the new plan contains alteration regarding the British bases and the territory they return to the federal state.

The plan also includes a proposed 5 percent reduction in the area of land held by the Turkish Cyprus to 29 percent.

DECADES-LONG DISPUTE & LENGTHY NEGOTIATION PROCESS

Cyprus has been divided into the Turkish-Cypriot north and the Greek-Cypriot south since 1974, when Turkish troops entered the north of the island after a failed Greek-Cypriot coup seeking union with Greece.

The reunification talks between the Greek Cyprus and the Turkish Cyprus, under the UN auspices, resumed in Nicosia last month but failed to achieve any breakthrough in the first phase that ended on March 22.

The second phase of the talks switched to Switzerland on March 24, with the participation of Greek and Turkish leaders.

If the two sides fail to reach accord on the plan by the Wednesday deadline, Annan has a mandate to fill in any disputed gaps. Either way, the plan will go to separate referenda in the two Cypriot communities on April 20.

If the plan is rejected by either side in the referenda, only the Greek Cyprus would join the EU.

Opinion polls show that many Cypriots see economic attractions in a united Cyprus entering the EU, but each side is wary of any deal that gives up too much to the other side on issues such as freedom of movement on the island and property ownership.

Also, some Turkish Cypriots fear that after the reunification, their poorer part of the island could be flooded and overrun by wealthier the Greek part which in turn would make them lose their Turkish character.

Source: Xinhua

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