CYRPUS: Both communities debate a plan to solve the 28-year conflict in 28 days, writes Michael Jansen in Nicosia
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, postponed his return to Cyprus on Saturday due to continuing complications following his heart surgery.
This could delay beyond today's deadline his decision on whether to negotiate on the UN plan for a political settlement for the divided island. The Greek Cypriots indicated they would give a positive response while the Turkish Cypriots asked for an extension, which was not initially given, but could be granted in view of Mr Denktash's ill health.
The UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, who handed over the 137-page document last week, is pressing the two sides to reach an agreement on the framework for a bizonal, bicommunal federation ahead of the December 12th summit of European Union leaders which is set to approve the candidacy of 10 new members, including Cyprus. The UN's aim is to secure the entry of a united rather than a divided Cyprus.
Greek and Turkish Cypriots agree that Mr Annan is in too much of a hurry.
A Greek Cypriot hotelier asked: "How do they think they can settle in 28 days the problem we have not been able to settle in 28 years?" The Greek Cypriot newspaper Phileftheros complained: "Everybody is on top of us." Although Mr Denktash called the plan a "new page in Cyprus's history", he was not happy with the choice of two maps. Both envision the handover to the Greek Cypriots of 8 per cent of the island's territory, reducing Turkish Cypriot holdings from 37 per cent to 28.5 per cent. Since both options involve the relocation of 42,000 residents of the Turkish-controlled enclave to permit the return of 85,000 Greek Cypriots to their homes, this was the initial focus of Turkish Cypriot opposition.
The northern daily Vatan called the proposition a "scandal" and Kibrisli called upon the UN to compensate the Greek Cypriots and "let everyone carry on living where they are". But the leader of the opposition Patriotic Unity Movement, Mr Alpay Durduran, focused on the "weakness of the proposed central government", observing that it "looks like a central government but actually it is invisible".
The opposition daily, Africa, noted that the plan did not tackle the sensitive issue of the 100,000 mainland Turkish settlers who may now outnumber the native Turkish Cypriots. The paper pointed out that many of the settlers "have no affection for this place", implying they should go home.
Four issues concerned Greek Cypriots. Many asked: "How can 9½ per cent of the people elect a president?" This refers to the provision which would, virtually, permit half of the 18 per cent Turkish Cypriots to choose the common head of government and state.
Secondly, they fear that the complicated power-sharing system enshrined in the proposed constitution could create gridlock in government. Thirdly, businessmen and economists worry that unless there are major reforms in the deeply troubled Turkish Cypriot economy, which is dependent on hand-outs from Turkey, the vibrant Greek Cypriot economy would be negatively affected. Finally, Greek Cypriots want clarifications on issues of property and compensation.
While a majority of Turkish Cypriots are prepared to pay the federation price to enter the EU, a straw poll taken on the streets of the Greek Cypriot sector of the capital revealed that proponents and opponents were equally divided.