Latest UN plan on Cyprus gets cool reception

Date: 27/02/03

By David Cronin

GREEK and Turkish Cypriots have offered differing analyses on the latest UN plan for reuniting Cyprus before it enters the EU.

The plan was presented to leaders of both communities by Kofi Annan, the UN's secretary-general, when he began a three-day visit to Nicosia yesterday. His trip was designed to boost efforts to thrash out a deal on the island's future by tomorrow's (28 February) UN-imposed deadline. But with the prospect of a break-through remote, Annan has suggested the deadline could be extended by another week.

Essentially a revision of a plan presented in November, the new package suggests:

• The number of Greek Cypriots who could return to homes seized when the Turkish army invaded the island in 1974 has been reduced to around 30,000 (from 60,000);
• the time-frame for their return has been increased from four to six years;
• the UK would cede half of the territory covered by its two military bases; 90% of this would go to Greek Cypriots, the remainder to the Turks;
• some 15 villages now under Turkish Cypriot control would become Greek, and;
• "United Cyprus" would be the island's name; it would consist of two states, joined by common political institutions.

Greek Cypriots feel the November plan contains concessions to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a state recognised only by Ankara.

But Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Cypriot leader, has argued the plan grants a "cake" to Greek Cypriots and "peanuts" to his community. "The new version fails to meet our concerns," explained his Brussels envoy Hilimi Akil.

However, the Turkish government has reacted positively, saying it would usher in "the solution we want".

Greek and Turkish Cypriots have offered differing analyses on the latest UN plan for reuniting Cyprus before it enters the EU. The plan was presented to leaders of both communities by Kofi Annan, the UN's secretary-general, on 26 February 2003.