UN Reunification Plan Rejected By Greek Cypriot Leader

by Lorys Charalambous, for LawAndTax-News.com, Cyprus

13 April 2004

Giving a televised speech last week, Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos urged the population of Cyprus to "vote a strong 'no'" on April 24, the date of the island-wide referendum on the UN-sponsored reunification plan.

Despite EU Enlargement Commissioner, Gunter Vergheugen's urgent call for the two communities to "seize the opportunity to reconcile their differences", Mr Papadopoulos announced that:

"I cannot accept or sign the plan."

Although the so-called 'Annan Plan' has been perceived by some as favouring the Turkish Cypriots, the leader of the Turkish third of the island, Rauf Denktash has consistently opposed it, and confirmed last week that he would be calling on voters to reject it at the forthcoming referendum.

"The risk should be explained to the Turkish Cypriot people in detail," he announced recently.

However, opinion appears to be divided in the Turkish Cypriot camp, as Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat revealed on Wednesday that he would be crossing to the Greek Cypriot south in order to promote a 'yes' vote.

Opinion polls in the south have shown a substantial majority against the plan, but most people admit they have not fully understood its details, and the hope of 'yes' campaigners is that in the two weeks remaining before the poll, many will change their minds. The President's speech has dented these hopes.

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