UN makes last-ditch bid to unite Cyprus ahead of summit

THE UN delivered a revised reunification plan to the rival Cypriot leaders yesterday in a last bid for agreement before the European Union summit later this week in Copenhagen.

“Cyprus has a rendezvous with history. It should not be missed,” UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said.

He asked both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders “to give the revision the most urgent consideration with a view to reaching a decisive conclusion this week, so that a reunited Cyprus may accede to the European Union”.

Mr Annan has also asked both sides “to be available in Copenhagen later this week should this prove necessary”.

The Copenhagen summit is expected to approve the accession of 10 states, including Cyprus, and to grant Turkey a date for the opening of its own negotiations for membership.

Failure to arrive at a Cyprus agreement could thwart the planned expansion.

Mr Annan presented his reunification plan to Greek-Cypriot leader President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash on November 11, giving them until December 12, the opening of the EU summit, as a deadline.

The revised plan followed intensive negotiations conducted by UN special envoy Alvaro de Soto with the two leaders in the past three days. The two leaders accepted the plan as a starting point for talks, but insisted the Thursday deadline did not allow time to negotiate features the sides regard as unacceptable.

Cyprus has been split into a Greek Cypriot-controlled south and a Turkish-occupied north since Turkey invaded in 1974 after an abortive coup by supporters of union with Greece.

A breakaway Turkish-Cypriot state in the north is only recognised by Turkey, which has 40,000 troops there.

The UN plan envisages reunification, with two federal regions linked through a weak central government.

The main stumbling block to an agreement through the years has been the demand of the Turkish side for recognition of sovereignty for the North with reunification as a confederation of two states.

The Greek Cypriot side is unhappy with the UN plan for providing only a partial return of the 200,000 Greek Cypriot refugees to the north, and for providing the continuing presence of 120,000 Turkish mainland settlers introduced to the north.

In a Turkish-Cypriot controlled part of Nicosia yesterday, several thousand people waved Turkish flags and banners in protest against the United Nations plan.