CYPRUS: A revised plan to settle the Cyprus question was presented to the island's Greek and Turkish communities yesterday by the United Nations in the hope of fresh movement before this week's EU summit in Copenhagen. From Michael Jansen, in Nicosia
During the past two months, the UN, the EU and the US have stepped up pressure on the two sides to achieve an accord so all of Cyprus can accede to the EU rather than the internationally recognised Greek-Cypriot majority republic in the south which has been conducting the negotiations.
UN envoy Mr Alvaro de Soto presented the Cypriot President, Mr Glafkos Clerides, and the Turkish-Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, with letters from the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, and a modified version of his proposal presented to them on November 11th.
This plan provides for the establishment of a bizonal, bicommunal federation of two largely autonomous cantons linked by a weak central administration headed by a rotating presidency.
The revisions were based on comments and suggestions handed to the UN on December 5th and subsequent intensive talks with Mr Clerides and Mr Denktash conducted by Mr de Soto.
In his letter, Mr Annan asked the two men to consider the revised text with the aim of reaching an accord by mid-week so that all Cyprus could enter the EU in 2004. Mr Annan also asked the sides to be present in Copenhagen should final consultations be needed. "Cyprus has a rendezvous with history," he wrote. "It should not be missed."
In an address broadcast on Sunday, Mr Denktash reiterated his call for diplomatic recognition of his breakaway state and rejected Mr Annan's proposed reduction of the Turkish-Cypriot zone from 37 to 28.9 per cent. He also refused to discuss the Greek-Cypriot demand for repatriation of an estimated 110,000 Turkish settlers who have come to the north since the Turkish occupation in 1974 following a coup mounted by the Greek junta.
Mr Denktash is in a difficult situation. While right-wingers in Turkey and northern Cyprus continue to insist on a solution based on two sovereign states, many Turkish-Cypriots favour reunification and EU membership.
As an inducement, the EU has pledged a €206 million assistance package for the underdeveloped north. Turkey's new government favours acceptance in exchange for a date for Ankara to begin EU accession talks.
If the plan is not accepted within the next 24 hours, negotiations could continue until the end of February when Mr Clerides is due to step down and perhaps for some months beyond under his successor.