Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 04-04-03

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] UN Security Council briefed on Cyprus talks

[02] Cypriot President to talk with Greece before deciding on Annan plan

[03] Open UN Security Council discussion on Cyprus on April 28

[01] UN Security Council briefed on Cyprus talks

1040:CYPPRESS:01

UN Security Council briefed on Cyprus talks

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 3 (CNA) - The UN Security Council was briefed yesterday on developments in the Cyprus problem by the UN chief's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto. After the briefing, the Council refrained from taking a stance on the solution plan presented to the sides in Cyprus by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, which will be put to separate referenda on April 24.

Security Council President Gunter Pleuger read a statement after the meeting, saying that the Council members ''thanked the Secretary General and Mr. de Soto for their efforts and their commitment to finding a solution to the Cyprus question,'' noting that ''it is now for the Cypriots to decide their future at this important juncture.''

UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast and Pakistan requested a stronger statement but Russia and China deemed the draft statement prepared by Britain was sufficient.

The possibility of requesting further actions from the Security Council remains open. Annan will be submitting a report to the Security Council and will make suggestions on the Council's action over the next few weeks.

Addressing the Security Council, de Soto elaborated on recent developments, especially the UN-led talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, between the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side, Greece and Turkey, which led to the presentation of Annan's final solution plan to the parties.

De Soto said the plan was the product of negotiations and respected international law and human rights.

''Obviously, it is now up to the Cypriots to decide and I think that the members of the Security Council are very conscious of the need to let them do so and they have weeks ahead in which to familiarize themselves and to receive whatever guidance and explanation from their leadership above all,'' he said.

He noted that the result was a bizonal, bicommunal, federal system, a Cypriot state with a single legal identity, sovereignty and citizenship. It is based on the political equality between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, de Soto added.

The Peruvian diplomat said the plan could not be but a compromise that would not meet all the demands of either side. However, he said Annan hoped the people in Cyprus would agree it was just and balanced.

[02] Cypriot President to talk with Greece before deciding on Annan plan

1345:CYPPRESS:02

Cypriot President to talk with Greece before deciding on Annan plan

Nicosia, Apr 3 (CNA) - Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos said today the government would be holding a series of contacts over the next few days with the Greek government, before announcing to the people its decision on the final text of a plan to solve the Cyprus problem, presented to the sides by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan during talks in Switzerland.

President Papadopoulos noted that it would not be right to request a meeting between the governments and political party leaders of Greece and Cyprus to decide on the Annan plan in view of the April 24 referenda on the island to accept or reject the solution plan, noting that it would be wrong to ''shift our responsibilities onto Greece.''

The National Council, top advisory body to the President on the handling of the Cyprus problem, convened today to examine developments after the UN-led talks in Burgenstock, Switzerland, and to evaluate the Annan plan.

Asked if the negative feelings of the Greek Cypriots regarding the Annan plan would settle down by the time of the referendum, President Papadopoulos said he could not make such an assessment, noting that ''this plan is known to all the people.''

''I do not believe that in the history of Cyprus there has ever been another political document that was analysed to such an extent, translated and circulated. Those interested have no excuse that they are not aware of it. They know it very well,'' the President said, adding however that certain points might not be comprehensible at first glance.

President Papadopoulos said it would be unwise for the government and the people to vote in the referendum without taking into consideration the future consequences from a ''yes'' or ''no'' vote.

Asked if he was feeling pressure from the international community, President Papadopoulos replied in the negative, noting that ''the international community clearly prefers a solution of the Cyprus problem with the Annan plan, something which is known and is not a secret.''

''We will decide, judging all conditions, all facts and certainly taking into account the consequences of a 'yes' or 'no','' the President said.

Replying to questions, the President said the Burgenstock talks ''gave much to the Turkish Cypriot side, compared to the changes we achieved,'' adding that the changes the Turkish Cypriot side obtained were ''much more significant than those of the Greek Cypriot side.''

[03] Open UN Security Council discussion on Cyprus on April 28

1405:CYPPRESS:03

Open UN Security Council discussion on Cyprus on April 28

by Apostolis Zoupaniotis

United Nations, Apr 3 (CNA) - The UN Security Council is to hold an open discussion on Cyprus on April 28, four days after the separate referenda among the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the island on the comprehensive settlement plan presented by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on March 31 in Burgenstock, Switzerland.

Cyprus News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article