Turkey set to profit after Greek Cypriots reject UN plan

TURKEY proclaimed its biggest diplomatic victory in 50 years yesterday after Turkish northern Cyprus voted for a UN-backed reunification plan while Greek Cypriots rejected it.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said the result meant Greek Cyprus would enter the bloc under a "shadow" on May 1.

EU officials said although Turkish Cypriots were now excluded, the union might move to ease harsh sanctions on them.

Heavy-handed Cypriot diplomacy has seen Turkey and the client Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC) frequently portrayed as the obstacles to settlement.

But Saturday's polls, after 30 years of partition, marked a profound change for Turkey, which nourishes its own ambitions to join the EU. The vote could improve its chances of winning a date this December for entry talks.

"Now we have changed the image of the Turkish Cypriots as the ones who run away from a solution," Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told a meeting of his AK party.

"This is the most successful event in the last 50 years of Turkish diplomacy."

The question is whether Turkey can translate sympathy into concrete political and diplomatic gain, easing the plight of a state recognized only by Ankara.

Greek Cypriot newspaper Politis, which supported reunification, said there needed to be an urgent review of policies to deal with world disapproval and Turkey's campaign to end northern Cyprus's isolation.

"We have been on the receiving end of thunderbolts from the international community since last night," columnist Dionysis Dionysiou wrote.

Mr Erdogan said Greek Cypriots missed an "historic" chance to reunite the island and end the tension that has existed since a 1974 Turkish invasion in response to a coup aimed at union with Greece.

"A new situation has emerged on the island. I believe the international community will assess the new situation and the isolation of the TRNC will come to an end," Mr Erdogan said.

The long-festering Cyprus problem, which has brought NATO partners Turkey and Greece to the verge of war on two occasions, will now be "imported" into the EU on May 1.

"The political damage is large," EU Enlargement Commissioner Verheugen commented.

The United States, which has said it would not leave the Turkish Cypriots out in the cold if they approved the plan for a loose association of two largely autonomous zones, expressed disappointment at the Greek Cypriot result.

It pointedly singled out Turkish Cypriots who comprise less than 200,000 of the island's 800,000 people for praise.

Many Greek Cypriots believed the deal did not cede them enough territory. They also felt it lacked sufficient security guarantees.