CYPRUS: The UN secretary general, Mr Kofi Annan, is to meet the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders at The Hague this morning to learn if they agree to hold separate referenda on his proposal for the reunification of the island, writes Michael Jansen in Nicosia.
The meeting, described by Mr Annan as "Cyprus's date with destiny", could decide whether a united island enters the EU in May 2004 or just the internationally-recognised Greek Cypriot majority republic. In the case of the latter, Turkish Cypriot aspirations to join would be frozen and Turkey's candidacy would be jeopardised.
Prospects for agreement are poor. The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, has said he will say no to a vote on the plan for a federation of two constituent states linked by a weak central authority.
He insists that the plan must be changed radically or a new proposal recognising Turkish Cypriot independence and sovereignty must be submitted.
Last Friday, Mr Denktash's supporters in the Turkish Cypriot parliament boycotted a session set to vote on this issue, while 25,000 backing his stance rallied in the centre of the northern sector of the capital.
Mr Denktash's opponents, who also demonstrated, claimed that his supporters were bolstered by mainland Turkish settlers and soldiers in civilian clothing.
The Cyprus President, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, said that his reply would depend on the positions adopted by the other side and by Mr Annan.
Although apparently agreeing with Mr Annan that any changes "in favour one side \ have to be followed by something \ for the other side", Mr Papadopoulos said alterations could be made to enhance the "workability" of the plan without altering the balance.
The UN envoy, Mr Alvaro de Soto, denied that Mr Annan was trying to bypass the leaders by calling for referenda.
"The secretary general is saying: 'This is as far as you are able to go in your efforts - perhaps the time has come for you to give the people the opportunity to take the decision'."
Mr de Soto said if the answer should be positive, the work of the technical committees elaborating specific aspects of the plan would have to be accelerated with the aim of completing work on March 25th, ahead of the referenda on March 30th.
Representatives of the three guarantor powers, Greece, Turkey and Britain, will also be present at The Hague.