Annan Believes UN Plan Best Way Forward For Cyprus
by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus
18 December 2003

Against the odds, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan remains optimistic that a settlement can be reached to unite the divided island in time for its European accession in May 2004.

UN Chief spokesman, Fred Eckhard told reporters that Annan “hopes that the Turkish Cypriot side - and indeed all parties - will soon be in a position to make the necessary commitment so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the European Union on 1 May, 2004."

However, the recent inconclusive results of elections in the Northern half of Cyprus which left the two main parties with an equal number of seats, throws fresh doubt on the prospects of a settlement in the near term. Eckhard revealed that the Secretary-General remains uninterested in pushing his settlement plan "without solid reason to believe that the political will necessary for a successful outcome exists."

Meanwhile the leader of the Turkish section of Cyprus, Rauf Denktash (who was primarily responsible for the scuppering of Annan’s plan), has given the parties two months to form a government, after which fresh elections will be called.

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