US Reaffirms Support For Annan Plan

by Lorys Charalambous, Tax-News.com, Cyprus

21 July 2005

A United States government spokesman stated on Tuesday that the settlement plan bartered by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan still represents the best approach towards a rapprochement on the divided island of Cyprus.

“The hope for a settlement of the Cyprus issue is the Annan plan”, the US State Department Deputy Spokesman Mr Adam Ereli told reporters during the regular press briefing.

“We believe that it behoves all parties to engage with renewed commitment and vigour and energy and creativity on the basis of that plan to help resolve this long-standing issue”.

In a referendum held in both communities last year, the Annan plan was supported by voters in Northern Cyprus, but rejected by voters in the South.

Pressed on the issue of whether the Turkish action in Cyprus was considered an invasion, Mr Ereli refused to be drawn, preferring to focus on current rather than historical issues.

“I'm not going to go back 30 years. I'm going to say what our focus now is and what our view of the future is and that's the Annan plan. There is a solution at hand and, unfortunately, it was rejected. It remains the basis for discussion. It remains a basis for resolution and the United States continues to work actively in support of the plan and with all the parties to see if we can find a way to move forward," he commented.

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