Tassos urged to reach out to the north
By Jean Christou

Kofi Annan yesterday called on President Tassos Papadopoulos to take the initiative in responding positively to his appeal to cooperate in ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

The UN Secretary General issued his appeal during a half-hour meeting in New York with Papadopoulos, the first since the failure of the Cyprus talks in Switzerland and the overwhelming Greek Cypriot ‘no’ in April’s referendum.
The meeting also came just hours after the publication of Annan’s detailed report on the failed talks process. The Greek Cypriot side was heavily criticised in the report, while Annan heaped praise on Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side for their acceptance of his plan, which had “undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating them”.
His report urged members of the Security Council to help end the economic isolation of the north and he asked Papadopoulos, who made it clear he disagreed with much of the report, to join in “eliminating the unnecessary restrictions and barriers”.

“This would signal that the Greek Cypriots wish to reach out to their Turkish Cypriot compatriots in the north and assist them and help facilitate the eventual goal of reunification,” the statement said.

The statement also said that Annan had asked the Security Council to be ready to address security concerns and the implementation of his plan even though he saw ''saw little if any score for a renewed good offices effort as long as the stalemate continued.''

''After the decisive rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriots, it would be for that side to explain to the Turkish Cypriots, the UN and the rest of the world how they see the way forward,” Annan said. He also repeated his regret “that a unique opportunity to solve the Cyprus problem has been missed.”

Diplomatic sources said the only thing Annan and Papadopoulos agreed on at the meeting was that there should be a time for reflection before any further moves were made towards a solution. “But he (Papadopoulos) had no ideas on how to go forward,” said the sources. “He said he needed changes to the plan in several areas but the Secretary-general told him there was no room for a new initiative as long as the stalemate remained.”

The sources said that Papadopoulos was hesitant to go all out in aiding the Turkish Cypriots because he believed it could make them lose interest in reunification.

“The Secretary-general told him the Turkish Cypriots didn't need
incentives for reunification because they had shown their interest in that by voting in favour of the plan, despite the sacrifices it entailed,” said the source.

Speaking at a news conference after the meeting with Annan, Papadopoulos said he wished to help the Turkish Cypriots reap the benefits of EU accession and see that they received as many benefits as possible “on condition that these were permissible and possible” in the context of EU and international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
He said that when the time was ripe, Turkish Cypriots would realise that “having their own little world and getting the benefits they are getting” was only “second best” to reunification.

Papadopoulos said he disagreed with much of Annan’s report, which he said was full of inaccuracies and he would be submitting his views in writing to the UN, he said. The report calls him to task over his emotional televised speech on April 7 urging Greek Cypriots to say ‘no’. Annan also criticised the Greek Cypriot media for the role it played in the ‘no’ vote. Little was done “by some parties” to convince the people of the need to compromise, he said.
According to Annan, EU accession had weakened Greek Cypriot incentive to compromise, and the government was pursuing a less flexible policy. The Greek Cypriots had also failed to negotiate in a spirit of give and take, Annan said.
But Papadopoulos dismissed suggestions he had deceived people.

''I have deceived nobody. Never before had a document received as much analysis through the media, it would be unfair to say the people of Cyprus voted the way they voted because they were in any way misguided by anybody. I had to give my own assessment of the plan and the decision must be respected by all,'' he said.

''To say that this particular plan, only this particular plan, is the only way of achieving that aim I think is wrong. The people rejected not the federation solution but this particular plan.”

”Many of the points the Turkish side demanded at the talks were points that to a great extent served the interests of Turkey not those of the Turkish Cypriots,” he said adding that he hoped ''the new outlook” shown by the Turkish side was not “an illusion”.

Commenting on Annan’s proposal to review the UN peacekeeping force in Cyprus UNFICYP, Papadopoulos said he shared the view that the force and the mandate of UNFICYP should be reviewed. He said the force was doing a ''marvellous job'' but since there had been no changes in security issues on the island, UNFICYP needed to continue its role. ''It would be a mistake to withdraw the force,'' he said.

Earlier yesterday before his meeting with Annan, Papadopoulos said that the Greek Cypriot side was “particularly offended” and considered unfounded the assessment that the decision of the Cyprus people to reject the plan constituted a rejection of a solution. “The Cyprus people decided that this plan did not secure the substantial prerequisites and certainly did not meet the many concerns we had put forward at the negotiations both in writing and orally with consistency and plan but they had not been accepted,” said Papadopoulos.

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Annan brings Turkish Cypriots in from cold
By Jean Christou
(archive article - Thursday, June 3, 2004)

U.N. SECRETARY-general Kofi Annan will urge members of the Security Council to turn their attention to ending the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots who voted to accept his reunification plan in April’s referendum when he presents his long-awaited report into the failed effort to reunify the island today.

At the same time, Annan calls to task President Tassos Papadopoulos over his emotional televised speech urging Greek Cypriots to reject the plan, and criticised the Greek Cypriot media for the role it played in the ‘no’ vote in the south of the island.

In his report to the Security Council, a copy of which has been obtained by the Cyprus Mail, Annan said the decision of the Turkish Cypriots to accept his reunification plan had “undone any rationale for pressuring and isolating them”.

“I would hope that the members of the Council can give a strong lead to all states to co-operate both bilaterally and in international bodies to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots and impeding their development, not for the purpose of affording recognition or assisting secession but as a positive contribution to the goal of reunification,” he said, adding that in the aftermath of the vote, the situation of Turkish Cypriots required the attention of the international community, including the Security Council.

Annan also welcomed the rapid reaction of the EU to aid the Turkish Cypriots, and said he hoped it would follow up these steps with further ones.

In a clear snipe at the Cyprus government, Annan said he had also “taken note” of Greek Cypriot intent to extend as many EU benefits as “possible and permissible” to the Turkish Cypriots.
He said EU accession had weakened Greek Cypriot incentive to compromise and that it was pursuing a less flexible policy. His plan was also the only foreseeable basis for a settlement, he added.

Annan said the rejection by the Greek Cypriots was a major setback. What was rejected was the solution itself rather than the mere blueprint, he said, because the benefits of the plan were things the Greek Cypriots had been seeking for decades, the return of refugees, the withdrawal of Turkish troops and the removal of a large number of Turkish settlers.

“A solution obviously requires more than a comprehensive and carefully balanced peace plan. It also needs bold and determined political leadership on both sides of the island as well as in Greece and Turkey, all in place at the same time and ready to negotiate with determination and to convince the people of the need to compromise. Little was done by some parties in this direction,” Annan said.

He particularly singled out Papadopoulos’ speech, saying it had taken him by surprise and that he was concerned because it appeared to call into question many fundamental aspects of the plan, while acknowledging that the final version contained improvements.

“I do not believe the speech accurately reflected the contents of the plan on a range of issues nor do I accept the argument that when the plan was finalised, Turkey’s concerns were satisfied and Greek Cypriot concerns largely ignored,” Annan said. “It might have been possible to accommodate other Greek Cypriot concerns had the Greek Cypriot side been more willing to engage in give and take at Burgenstock and before, and to prioritise its objectives.”

“My plan which was becalmed for a year for lack of political will has now run aground on the decision of the Greek Cypriot electorate. Its fate is a powerful illustration of the difficulties of finding a solution to this long-standing problem.”

Annan said, however, that the Greek Cypriot rightly expected the international community to respect their decision, which he said might have come about for a range of reasons, such as not being adequately prepared or due to a lack of objective information or the imbalance between the ’yes’ and’ no’ campaigns or the belief that a new opportunity would come along soon, or a combination of all these factors.

He also said lingering Greek Cypriot concerns about security and implementation of the plan needed to be articulated with clarity and finality and that the Security Council would be well advised to stand ready to address such concerns. He also pointed out, however, that the Greek Cypriot side had not wanted the Security Council to take any decisions prior to the referendum – even on security issues.

“However, the sheer size of the ‘no’ vote raises even more fundamental questions,” said Annan. “While they strongly state their wish to reunify many (Greek Cypriots) see in a settlement very little gain and quite a lot of inconvenience and risk.”

He said Greek Cypriots should reflect on this when there was little prospect of any renewed peace effort, adding that there was no apparent basis for resuming while the current stalemate continued.

“If the Greek Cypriots are ready to share power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriots in a federal structure based on political equality, this needs to be demonstrated not just by word but by action,” he added.

But Annan had praise for the Turkish Cypriots. “I welcome the decision of the Turkish Cypriots. They have clearly and convincingly come out in favour of reunification of Cyprus… they have done so despite the pain and dislocation that would have been caused by the relocation of around one third of Turkish Cypriots under the plan,” the Secretary-general said.

He added that although EU membership might have played a part in their decision, they had broken the decades-old policy of seeking recognition for the breakaway state.

He also urged Turkish Cypriots not to turn their backs on reunification even though they might feel rebuffed, and to take every opportunity to reach out to the Greek Cypriots.

The report also levels criticism at the Greek Cypriot media and the way the plan was presented to the public. He said the efforts of the UN to provide explanations and clarifications about the plan were hampered by the media climate on the island.

Before Burgenstock, it had not been possible to find a Greek Cypriot television station to work with a Turkish Cypriot station to produce a bi-communal phone-in, Annan said. Afterwards, he said special envoy Alvaro de Soto had been denied air time on state television on the Greek Cypriot side.
Speaking before the report had been made public, Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday that the government hoped Annan would be objective and allow room for further negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

''If the report were not objective, we would be displeased,'' he said.

The report is expected to be formally submitted to the Security Council today.

Papadopoulos is due to meet Annan in New York later today.

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Another missed opportunity’ for reunification
By Jean Christou
(archive article - Thursday, June 3, 2004)

KOFI ANNAN’S report said that the outcome of four-and-a-half years of effort on the Cyprus issue represented another “missed opportunity” to resolve the problem and said the Greek Cypriot side could have achieved more had it engaged in any give and take throughout the final stages of the process.

Annan’s report gives a run down of the negotiations from the failure at The Hague last year, when the Turkish Cypriot side walked out, to the last stages at Burgenstock in Switzerland in March this year.
“Full use had not been made out of four of the six days available for this critical negotiations,” the report said adding that the UN team had been reduced to shuttling between the sides in lieu of direct negotiations.

He said that after talks collapsed at The Hague last year he had told the Security Council that he would not propose any new initiative unless there was a solid reason to believe that the political will existed necessary for a successful outcome. He said he sought these guarantees from the two sides and from Greece and Turkey.

He also said that at that time President Tassos Papadopoulos had been prepared to submit the plan to referendum provided certain procedural concerns were met.

In December 2003, the Greek Cypriot side asked for the renewal of negotiations and this was followed by a commitment to talks by Ankara in January 2004. The two sides then went to New York in early February and a procedure was agreed that negotiations would take place in Nicosia on February 19, and a second phase in Burgenstock in Switzerland from March 24-31 with the contribution of Greece and Turkey. If all procedures failed Annan would fill in the blanks on his plan by March 30, and the two sides would take it to referendum on April 24.

Recounting the to-ing and fro-ing, Annan said little of significance had been achieved during the Nicosia talks. He said the Turkish Cypriot side’s demands had been outside the parameters of the plan and had far-reaching changes. It was mid-March by the time they modified their demands, he said, adding that no territorial proposals were put forward by them.

Annan said that by contrast the Greek Cypriot side took each issue in turn and produced dense and lengthy papers “one after another” and it became apparent that their list was not exhaustive.
“The Greek Cypriot side declined to provide a comprehensive paper of all textual amendments it sought until midway through the Burgenstock phase and declined to prioritise its demands,” said the report.

Annan added that the Greek Cypriot side insisted its proposals did not take any rights from the Turkish Cypriots and therefore did not require tradeoffs. By contrast the Turkish Cypriot side was prepared to engage on Greek Cypriot proposals and to discuss matters on a realistic basis and sought to make counter offers, the report said.

Annan said that an additional factor blocking any kind of frank discussion at the table was the regular disclosure of the (Nicosia) talks to the media usually with a negative spin “either by Greek Cypriot leakage or the daily oral briefings by Mr Denktash to the press”.

He said the Greek Cypriot side had also refused the four-party meeting with Greece and Turkey at Burgenstock, reducing the UN to holding social gatherings to break the ice, which it did “but did not lead to real negotiations” Annan said.

He said the Greek Cypriot side did not produce a full list of demands until March 25, which ran to 44 pages but was still not prioritised. “The opportunity was not taken for full and frank dialogue at Burgenstock,” said the report.

When the two sides failed to agree on a comprehensive settlement, Annan then filled in the blanks as agreed, but he said the Greek Cypriot side was dissatisfied with his bridging proposals and made this clear publicly. “This negative public reaction was reflected in the resulting media coverage on the Greek Cypriot side,” he said.

He also said it was March 30, one day before the talks ended, that the Greek Cypriot side communicated its views for the first time on the UN proposals and it was the first time it expressed any interest in specified pieces of additional territory.

He said that despite four years of negotiations, the parties found it difficult to agree on key points “even though they were well aware of the kinds of compromises that would be needed”.

Annan’s report, in addition to heaping praise on the Turkish Cypriot side, also lauded Turkey “whose policy enabled the new effort and which reflected the political maturity of that country and her leaders”.

“Prime Minister Erdogan’s commitment to me to be one step ahead of the efforts for a solution was kept and I appreciated the strong support of the Turkish government from the top down, for my efforts,” he said.

Annan also praised the Greek government for its advice and the way it refrained from taking positions that might appear that it was interfering in Cyprus’ internal affairs.

“There is always the possibility that following a period of reflection something may emerge which offers a way to refloat the plan and salvage a settlement from the current situation,” he said. “But neither of the Cyprus parties has made a proposal to the United Nations or to the other – to my knowledge – to resolve this impasse. I do not see any basis for resuming my good offices as long as this stand-off remains.”

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Levent goes to court in protest at being barred from standing
By Simon Bahceli
(archive article - Thursday, June 3, 2004)

THE editor of Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika, Sener Levent, said yesterday he had filed a case with the Supreme Court over the government’s refusal to allow him to stand as a candidate in European Parliament elections on June 13.

The government rejected Levent’s application to stand last month claiming he was not elegible because his name had not been included on the electoral register.

However, Levent told a news conference in Nicosia yesterday that there was no clause in Cyprus’ electoral law stating that one must be included on the electoral register in order to stand as a candidate.

“I was in the same situation in the north in 2000 when I stood as a candidate in the presidential election. I was a candidate, but I could not vote,” he said. He argues the same law applies in the south and in the rest of Europe.

Levent also issued a complaint that election regulations were not made clear to the Turkish Cypriot community.

“The Greek Cypriot government published a form for people to register to vote, but they did not publish the regulations so that we would know how the system works.”

He also protested against the government’s decision to close registration for potential voters on April 2.

“I believe such a decision was unjust as the situation changed totally after the referendum on April 24. If both sides had voted ‘yes’ in the referendum, the two communities would have been voting separately, meaning that all Turkish Cypriots living in the north would have automatically been put on the register. But when the Annan plan was rejected in the south it meant the two communities would be voting together, but only in the south.”

As it stands, only 503 Turkish Cypriots are registered to vote in the election.

Levent insists he is not trying to score political points against the Republic of Cyprus, but is simply seeking justice.

“As someone who supports the existence of the Republic of Cyprus, I feel I must respect the law, and so should the government. It is they who are flouting it.”

Levent believes registrations for the Turkish Cypriot community should have been reopened following the referendum to allow more Turkish Cypriots to participate. He is calling for the election to be delayed to allow for this to happen.

Chief Returning Officer Lazaros Savvides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday he had not rejected Levent’s application but had told him it would be impossible for him to stand as he had not signed up to the electoral register by the deadline. He responded to the news of Levent’s legal claim by saying: “He hasn’t got a chance to prove his case. He was very well informed about the deadline. His newspaper even carried a notice about procedures for registration. It’s his own fault.”

Savvides added that his office had done “everything possible to inform the Turkish Cypriots” on what they needed to do in order to be included on the electoral register.

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Annan: time for a review of UNFICYP
By Jean Christou
(archive article - Thursday, June 3, 2004)

U.N. SECRETARY-general Kofi Annan yesterday called for a review of his Cyprus peacekeeping operation UNFICYP, amid speculation that his aim was to drastically reduce the 1,200-strong force.

In his report on the renewal of the force’s mandate, and also in his report on the Cyprus negotiations, both issued in New York last night, Annan, who criticised the Greek Cypriot side’s actions during the failed last round of negotiations, recommended in his report that the force be renewed for another six months until December.

But he said that in the aftermath of what he called the “watershed” vote of April 24, when over 75 per cent of Greek Cypriots rejected his reunification plan in a referendum, he believed that “a fundamental reassessment of the full range of United Nations peace activities in Cyprus is timely.”

He added that he would submit recommendations on the adjustments or restructuring that may be required, and that “meanwhile, I recommend that the Security Council extend the mandate of the Force for a further period of six months until 15 December 2004.”

Annan said the reassessment, to be carried out over the next three months, should include the four-decade old search for peace in Cyprus and consider how best to address the problem in the future.

“It should bear in mind that the implicit central purpose of all peacekeeping operations is to provide an environment conducive to the resolution of conflict,” Annan said in his report.

He said the review would focus on force levels and concept of operations “in the light of the developments on the ground, the positions of the parties and any views the Security Council might have.”

UNFICYP, which has been in Cyprus since 1964, has gradually reduced troops levels over the years and has remained at present levels for the last decade or so. As it stands, the force is stretched to patrol the 180-km buffer zone that divides the island.

The main bulk of the cost of keeping the force on the island is borne by the Cyprus government, with a large share coming from Greece, and the remainder through UN member states’ voluntary contributions and the troop contributing countries..

Soldiers from Britain, Argentina, Hungary and Slovakia are stationed in Cyprus, as are a small number of Irish and Australian UN civilian police.

Had the Annan plan been accepted by both sides, the number of UN troops on the island would have more than doubled to help oversee the transition periods in relation to property and troop reductions.

Reports in the Greek Cypriot press yesterday suggested the move was “a message to the Greek Cypriots” by the international community, which has made no secret of its disappointment over the ‘no’ vote.

The reports said that UNFICYP numbers would be reduced by half to around 600, but Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said yesterday the force was already stretched.

Politis newspaper said the US, which made clear its level of disappointment over the ‘no’ vote, had called for a complete withdrawal of UNFICYP troops and proposed leaving only a small civilian police team to monitor the buffer zone.

But it is unlikely that UN Security Council permanent members Russia, China and France would allow this to happen.

Annan’s report said that the military situation along the ceasefire lines remained generally calm and stable during the past six months, but noted that the number of air violations increased from 49 to 67, of which 20 were by Turkish military aircraft, two by Greek military aircraft, 13 by Cypriot police helicopters and the remaining 32 of unknown origin.

“In line with past experience for the season, there were fewer crossings of the maritime security lines, the seaward extension of the median line of the buffer zone that vessels from either side are advised not to cross”, he added..

Annan also said that restrictions imposed on UNFICYP in July 2000 by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot security forces, partially eased in May 2003, but continued to hinder the operations of UNFICYP, including in the fenced-off area of Varosha.

“The United Nations holds the Government of Turkey responsible for the maintenance of the status quo in Varosha. The violation of the military status quo in Strovilia persisted,” the report said.

Referring to the crossings of people to and from the north, Annan says that by May 1 2004, 3.7 million crossings by Greek Cypriots to the north and Turkish Cypriots to the south had taken place.

He said that during the reporting period, UNFICYP facilitated 138 bi-communal events at the Ledra Palace Hotel, bringing together 7,300 Greek and Turkish Cypriots, adding that UNFICYP also assisted in facilitating several bi-communal news conferences and seminars leading up to the April 24 referenda.

On the financial aspects of the operation, Annan said the UN General Assembly “appropriated the amount of $43.8 million for the maintenance of UNFICYP for the period from 1 July 2003 to 30 June 2004, which included the voluntary contribution of one third of the cost of the Force, equivalent to $14.6 million, from the government of Cyprus and the voluntary contribution of $6.5 million from the government of Greece.

“My proposed budget for the maintenance of UNFICYP for the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005, which amounts to $47.4 million, is currently under consideration by the General Assembly,” he said. “Should the Security Council decide to extend the mandate of UNFICYP for a further period of six months, the cost of maintaining the Force would be limited to the amount approved by the General Assembly.”

Cyprus Mail 03/062004

Denktash: can’t miss a trick
By Staff Reporter

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said yesterday that the UN Secretary-general’s report merely thanked the Turkish side for saying yes in the referendum. Denktash, who was sidelined by the international community and refused to attend the last phase of negotiations, said the report was inadequate for the Turkish side. He said the Greek Cypriots, who were heavily criticised in the report, had

“played their tricks and preserved their bargaining power”. “Those who induced us into saying yes with false promises are now looking on us from afar and confining themselves to only saying that they will try to help us,” he said.
“Secretary-general Annan, who applauded Greece's non-interference in the affairs of the Greek Cypriots, merely extended a thanks as a reciprocation for Turkey's great role in persuading us into saying yes.’ Denktash, who had campaigned openly for a ‘no’ vote in the north because he wanted two separate states, said he would issue a more detailed statement when he had read the report more carefully.

“No Turkish Cypriot can break into smile today,” he said. “This is the day when the Turkish Cypriots should do some serious thinking. It is very saddening that the people, deceived by the promise of recognition, villas, peace and integration with the world, have been thrown into such a situation. The remedy lies in standing up, forcefully and persistently, for our own state and sovereignty.”

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Parties line up to slam Annan report
By George Psyllides

RULING DIKO yesterday slammed the United Nations Secretary-general’s report on Cyprus, describing it as unbalanced and inaccurate.

Kofi Annan’s report was widely viewed as negative by the political leadership, though some interpreted it as leaving a window open for a future initiative to solve the Cyprus problem.

DIKO deputy chairman Nicos Cleanthous suggested the report contributed to the division of Cyprus and not its reunification.

He said Annan had drafted his report under emotional stress and had exceeded his mandate, which was the provision of good offices to find an agreed solution on the basis of the UN resolutions.

“DIKO rejects as an insult Mr Annan’s claim that the Cypriot people do not want a solution of the Cyprus problem and did not accept a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation,” Cleanthous said.

The party urged the Secretary-general and the Security Council to concentrate their efforts on implementing UN resolutions, while expecting the members of the Security Council to discuss the report objectively, and note the clearly imbalanced contents.
Annan steered clear of any self-critique and wrongly attempted to absolve Turkey, Cleanthous said.

He noted that the tendency to punish the Greek Cypriots after they said ‘no’ in the referendum originated from the failure of the foreign powers to enforce their plan within the specific timeframe.

Cleanthous added that the Greek Cypriot side asked for a solution on the basis of the Annan plan but with certain changes that would result in the Greek Cypriots’ acceptance of the plan.

DISY chief Nicos Anastassiades said he was concerned by the very negative report, which dictated that it was time for the political leadership to set common targets and tackle the dangers faced by the country united.

“What is important is that it is quite negative and this worries us; for this reason, it is in order to realise that the time has come for common goals and for confronting the dangers faced by the country collectively,” Anastassiades said.

Asked whether he felt vindicated in relation to the criticism he had voiced concerning the way the negotiations and the campaigning had been handled, Anastassiades stressed that what was important at this point was for Cyprus not to be treated unjustly.

He added that the report would be studied in depth by the party’s political bureau on Saturday and that the necessary announcements would be issued later.

AKEL’s initial reaction was to point out that, despite its negativity, the report left an open window for future initiatives.

Party spokesman Andros Kyprianou stressed, however, that there was no mention whatsoever of the real state of affairs in Cyprus.

The Secretary-general could not forget that the Turkish side was responsible for the division of the island, he said; “and it is they who are stationing 40,000 troops illegally, it was Turkey who invaded”, and all this could not be written off just because the Turkish Cypriots had accepted the Annan plan and the Greek Cypriots said ‘no’.

In a written statement later in the afternoon, AKEL said the report also had contradictions, inaccuracies, and wrong assessments of positions and intentions of the Greek Cypriot side.

“AKEL disagrees with the Secretary-general’s assessment that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected the solution itself in the referendum.

“The Greek Cypriots voted ‘no’ in the referendum not because they reject the bi-zonal, bi-communal federation solution but because their concerns on security issues and the implementation of the solution were not met and also because they judged that the Secretary-general’s refereeing was unfair,” AKEL said.

“It is time that the UN did some self-criticism concerning the reasons, which led the Greek Cypriot community to be negative to the Annan plan,” the statement added.
Government partners EDEK said that the negative tone of the report was disappointing.
“I think, however, that most importantly the Secretary-general gave the message that the Greek Cypriot reply should have been a ‘yes’ and nothing else,” said EDEK chairman Yiannakis Omirou, suggesting that Annan had exceeded his authority regarding the issue of ending the Turkish Cypriot isolation.

“He cannot suggest deviating from the contents and framework set by the Security Council resolutions 541 and 550; in reality this is what he is suggesting when saying that ways should be found to develop bilateral relations with the Turkish Cypriot regime,” Omirou said.

Former president and leader of the United Democrats party George Vassiliou stressed that the situation was much more difficult than could have been imagined.

He stressed that he had not had the chance to study the complete report but it was clear that Annan criticised President Tassos Papadopoulos and raised an issue concerning the peacekeeping force’s presence on the island.

“It is clear that internationally, they do not have a clear view of what it is exactly that we’re asking, and we do not have the luxury to leave it for later on because in such a case we will lead things to de facto partition,” Vassiliou said.

But Green Party deputy George Perdikis suggested that the report contained one positive point since it was the first time that the UN Secretary-general left open a window of opportunity to continue negotiations.

“It is the first time when the view that the fifth plan was the last chance was abandoned and a window was created to continue the negotiations, “Perdikis said.

Cyprus Mail 04/062004

Government cries foul at Annan report
By Jean Christou

UN Secretary-general Kofi Annan’s report is unfair and has misinterpreted the positions of the Greek Cypriot side, the government said immediately after its publication.

Speaking hours before President Tassos Papadopoulos met Annan in New York, government spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides, although he welcomed the fact that the report had left the door open for a settlement, said it did not present a good overall picture of the negotiations. He said the government disagreed with several parts of the report, which he said represented ''an unfair and far-fetched conclusion to claim that the rejection by the Greek Cypriots of the Annan plan was in fact a rejection of either a solution or the notion of a bizonal, bicommunal federation.''

Annan’s report stated: “What was rejected was the solution itself rather than the blueprint”. The Secretary-general did not say the Greek Cypriot side was not interested in a solution per se.

Chrysostomides also said the Secretary-general had contradicted himself by calling in members of the Security Council to open bilateral ties with the Turkish Cypriots but at the same time citing UN resolutions on the recognition of the north. Annan had made it clear that any moves towards recognition or secession would contravene Security Council resolutions.

''Some of the suggestions in the report, in particular the call to the Security Council to eliminate unnecessary restrictions and barriers that have the effect of isolating the Turkish Cypriots, lead to dangerous ground and we believe that they are outside the framework of the Secretary General's good offices mission and go beyond international law and Council resolutions,'' Chrysostomides said.

He also said that the report did not refer to Turkish occupation and had not mentioned the negative stance of the Turkish side prior to the Burgenstock phase talks or throughout the past 30 years.

He said references to the fact that Greek Cypriots did not negotiate during the final phase of the talks in Burgenstock Switzerland were also inaccurate, and he disputed the UN’s figures on the number of Turkish settlers in the north. Commenting on security aspects the spokesman said there was no justification for the continued right of Turkey to intervene in Cyprus.

''The government would wish to see all events presented clearly and objectively as they occurred during the negotiations, noting the position of the other side prior to the talks,'' Chrysostomides said.

''Reports by the Secretary-general are and should be objective. I do not think that the Secretary-general is entitled or has an intention to punish or be vindictive towards the people of Cyprus. He says in the report he respects the outcome of the referendum.''

Greece yesterday agreed with the government’s view saying the views outlined in Annan’s report do not in all instances coincide with the views of the parties involved.

“In certain points the assessment made is not absolutely accurate,'' George Koumoutsakos, the Greek Foreign Ministry pspokesman, said.

He said that the interpretation of the outcome of April's referendum in the report was not clear. ''The rejection of the proposed solution plan was interpreted as a desire for a non solution but this is not so,” he added.

Koumoutsakos said that any measures to help the Turkish Cypriots must act as an incentive and not an obstacle towards a solution. He also said the report was not clear on the issue of future efforts for a settlement.

Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side, which received extremely favourable remarks from Annan, were pleased with the content of the report, Turkish Cypriot politicians indicated yesterday.

In Ankara, reports said that it was confirmation for the first time that the Turkish side was not to blame for the lack of a solution.

“According to Ankara, the fact that the Greek Cypriot administration was criticised in a clear language shows that the Cyprus picture has been presented truthfully in the Annan report,” Turkish NTV reported.

A diplomatic source said that Ankara was now “exerting efforts to ensure that a negative amendment - through Greek Cypriot pressure - is not made in the time it takes for this report to be turned into a resolution”.

Cyprus Mail 04/062004