Cypriot Human Rights Court Judge Urges Rejection Of Annan Plan

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

18 April 2005

Loukis Loucaides, the Cypriot judge on the European Human Rights Court, has urged Greek Cypriot political leaders to withdraw their support for the Annan plan as a basis for settlement negotiations because it violates both the principles of human rights and the EU aquis.

Addressing an audience of legal experts, political figures, citizens and refugees, Loucaides declared that the plan negotiated by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, rejected by Greek Cypriots in a referendum last year, was "incompatible with the basic principles of justice."

He went on to add that:

"The Plan is in stark contrast with the obligation for the restoration of the fundamental personal rights of the Cypriots, which Turkey violates continuously on a massive scale and organised manner."

Loucaides also argued that the Annan plan violates the EU aquis and human rights principles that seek to prevent political distinctions on the basis of racial origin.

"There cannot be distinctions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, or other ethnic communities and that all legal citizens of the state of Cyprus, irrespective of ethnic origin belong to one and the same electoral body that elects its representatives to state office. These representatives must emanate from the same electoral roll," he argued.

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