UN chief urges Cypriots to ignore their leaders
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was “disappointed” today that both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders are calling for the defeat of his plan to reunify their war divided nation.
He urged Cypriots to seize the opportunity to reunite the Mediterranean isle anyway.
Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, meanwhile, asked the UN to delay April 24 referendums on Annan’s plan, but the Secretary-General gave no indication any delay would be forthcoming.
Denktash has opposed the plan all along. But UN officials appeared annoyed with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, who, in a televised speech last night, urged his nation to vote against Annan’s plan. It is being put to the people after their leaders failed to negotiate a settlement.
A scheduled meeting between Papadopoulos and UN envoy Alvaro de Soto was abruptly cancelled today without explanation. However, it appeared to be a response to Papadopoulos’ remarks.
“I call on the people to vote against approval of the plan in the referendum on April 24 with a strong no,” Papadopoulos said in his address.
“After judging all the facts … I am sincerely sorry that I cannot sign acceptance of the Annan plan.”
He said the plan “writes off” the consequences of Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus and legitimises “the illegal presence of the tens of thousands of Turkish mainland settlers.”
He said it violates basic human rights and European Union principles ensuring refugees can return to their properties.
Denktash rejects it as failing to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots, saying it would create “a Greek Cypriot republic.”
However, many Turkish Cypriots want to see reunification and the economic boost they would get from it if Cyprus can join the European Union on May 1 as a united country.
