Cyprus peace plan faces twin rejections

Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders urged voters yesterday to reject a UN plan to reunify Cyprus before the island joins the EU next month.

Both Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Dentkash condemned the UN plan to end a 30-year division of the east Mediterranean island, which will be put to twin referendums on April 24.

"I call on you to reject the (UN) Annan plan. I call on you to say a strong 'no' to defend your rights and your history and your moral values," a tearful Papadopoulos said in a speech.

Greek and Turkish Cypriots will vote on reunification a week before Cyprus joins the European Union on May 1. If either side votes 'No', only the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government in the south will enter, deepening the isolation of the minority Turkish Cypriots and harming Turkey's own EU hopes.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presented his plan to the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities last week.

Mr Denktash, 80, made clear he believed the plan would spell an end to his Turkish Cypriot statelet, recognised only by Turkey.

Cyprus has been split on ethnic lines since 1974, when Turkey invaded after a brief Greek Cypriot coup backed by a military junta ruling in Athens. The 1960s saw fierce communal bloodshed that left deep scars.

Mr Denktash fears Turkish Cypriots will be swamped by the majority Greek Cypriots in a reunited Cyprus, despite guarantees in the UN plan allowing broad autonomy for both communities.

In a 50-minute televised speech, Mr Papadopoulos said the UN plan was unworkable and would threaten the security of citizens by disbanding the Greek Cypriot army.

"This plan does not meet even our minimum requirements," the 70-year-old Greek Cypriot said, his voice choked with emotion.

"The risks and dangers of saying 'yes' are much, much greater than the risks of saying 'no', and the impact of a 'yes' vote would be irreversible," he said, adding efforts to reunite the island would continue even if the referendum failed.

The plan proposes re-linking Cyprus under a loose federation of two largely self-governing states, one Greek Cypriot and the other Turkish Cypriot.

The UN plan would allow Greece and Turkey, the guarantor powers under a 1960 treaty, intervention rights and to keep troops on the island. It would also limit, for a transitional period, unlimited Greek Cypriot settlement in northern Cyprus.

Politicians and voters have shown little support for the 9,000-page UN document which emerged from inconclusive talks last week in Switzerland.

Opinion polls have pointed to an outright rejection by Greek Cypriots and approval by Turkish Cypriots by a thin majority.